looks evinced his displeasure, and
after walking about for a quarter of an hour in sullen silence, with
very much the demeanour of a spoiled child thwarted in his whim, he at
length made a similar request of me, letting drop at the same time, some
expression to the effect that one of us _must_ go with him. Fortunately
Rokoa, whose high spirit would have taken instant offence at the least
semblance of a threat, did not hear this. I saw plainly, that for some
reason, the young chief had set his heart upon having either Barton or
myself visit his village, and I suspected this was, in fact, the sole
object of his return. I observed, also, that his party was somewhat
more numerous, and much better armed than it had been in the morning,
and I had no doubt that, rather than suffer himself to be baffled in his
purpose, he would resort to force to accomplish it.

"After a moment's reflection, I was pretty well satisfied that I had
nothing to fear from acceding to his request, believing, as I did, that
I understood the motive of it. I thought, too, that a refusal would in
all probability lead to an instant hostile collision between the natives
and ourselves, and I finally resolved to accept, or more accurately
speaking, to yield to, the invitation. Having come to this conclusion,
I told Mowno that I would go with him, upon the condition that I should
return before night, to which he readily assented, showing extreme
satisfaction at having finally succeeded in his wishes. I gave no
credit to the alleged cannibal propensities of the islanders, and was
inclined from what I had already seen, to think much more favourably of
them than the event justified. I supposed that the curiosity of the
people of the village had been excited by the reports of those who had
seen us in the morning, respecting the pale-faced strangers, and that
Mowno's only object in insisting as he did, on having Barton or myself
go with him, was to gratify some aged chief who was too infirm to come
down to the shore to see us, or did not want to take the trouble of
doing so."

"Well, was you right in your conjecture?" inquired Browne.

"Yes, partially at least; there was, I think, no unfriendly motive as
far as Mowno was concerned. What designs others of the natives may have
entertained I will not at present undertake to say. But instead of some
superannuated chief, it was the curiosity of Mowno's young wife that was
to be gratified. On hearing his acc