upon that
voyage, that I first became acquainted with him. We afterwards
travelled together, through the most wild and inaccessible parts of the
interior of Tahiti and Eimeo; and in the course of this intimacy, I
discovered much in him to esteem and admire. There was in his
character, such a union of gentleness and courage, such childlike
openness of disposition, and such romantic fidelity to what he
considered the obligations of friendship, as reminds me of young Edmund,
in Johnny's favourite story of Asiauga's Knight. With a chivalrous
daring, that could face the most appalling danger without a tremor, was
united an almost feminine delicacy of character, truly remarkable in a
savage."

"That," said Browne, "is the true ideal of the knightly character--
courage, which nothing can daunt, but without roughness or ferocity even
in the hour of mortal combat. The valour of the knight is a high
sentiment of honour, devotion, loyalty; it is calm, gentle, beautiful,
and is thus distinguished from the mere animal courage of the ruffian,
which is brutal, fierce, and cruel."

"I think I shall like Rokoa," said Johnny, rubbing his hands together in
token of satisfaction, "and I guess this is going to be an interesting
story; there will be some fighting in it, I expect."

"Of course, there will be plenty of fighting," said Max, "or else what
is the meaning of this preliminary flourish of trumpets, about Rokoa's
chivalrous courage, and all that?"

"I once more give fair and timely notice, in order to prevent
disappointment, that I am merely relating a sober narrative of facts,
and not improvising one of Max's florid romances about Sooloo pirates,
Spanish bandits, Italian bravos, or the robbers of the Hartz mountains."

"Or enchanted castles, captive princesses, valiant knights,
fire-breathing dragons, and diabolical old magicians," added Browne,
"which formed the staple of a highly edifying tale with which I
overheard him entertaining Johnny the other afternoon at Castle-hill, as
we were taking our siesta in the shade."

"And a capital story it was, too," said Johnny, "but go on, Arthur,
please."

"Well, every thing being arranged for our voyage, we set sail in a large
`Vaa Motu,' or single canoe, furnished with a great outrigger, and
manned by a crew of nine natives. Our cargo consisted of Barton's stock
of goods for trading with the islanders, and a quantity of stained
tappa, fine mats, shark's teeth, etcetera, which