ersary,
and, raising his powerful voice, recalled his men from the pursuit.
Then wading into the brook, he began to wash the gore from his head and
face: one of his people, who from his official air of bustling alacrity,
must have been a professional character, or at least an amateur surgeon,
examined the wounds, and dexterously applied an improvised poultice of
chewed leaves to his gashed face, using broad strips of bark for
bandages.

Meantime Arthur hastened over to the islet, and released our companions
from the ligatures of tappa which confined their limbs. Eiulo was no
sooner freed, than he ran eagerly to Wakatta, who took him in his arms,
and embraced him tenderly. After a rapid interchange of questions and
replies, during which they both shed tears, they seemed to be speaking
of ourselves, Eiulo looking frequently towards us, and talking with
great animation and earnestness. They then approached the place where
we were standing, and Wakatta spoke a few words, pointing alternately
from Eiulo to us. Arthur made some reply, whereupon the old warrior
went to him, and bending down his gigantic frame gave him a cordial hug;
his fresh bandaged wounds probably caused him to dispense with the usual
ceremony of rubbing faces.

"I expect it will be our turn next," said Max, with a grimace, "if so,
observe how readily I shall adapt myself to savage etiquette, and
imitate my example."

It proved as he anticipated, for Wakatta, who must have received a
highly flattering account of us from Eiulo, was not satisfied until he
had bestowed upon each one of us, Johnny included, similar tokens of his
regard, Max rushing forward, with an air of "empressement," and taking
the initiative, as he had promised. The "surgeon," who seemed to think
that some friendly notice might also be expected from him, in virtue of
his official character, now advanced with a patronising air, and in his
turn paid us the same civilities, not omitting the rubbing of faces, as
his chief had done. Another one of our "allies," as Max called them, a
huge, good-natured-looking savage, picked up Johnny, very much as one
would a lap-dog or a pet kitten, and began to chuck him under the chin,
and stroke his hair and cheeks, greatly to the annoyance of the object
of these flattering attentions, who felt his dignity sadly compromised
by such treatment.

As soon as these friendly advances were over, Arthur entered into a
conversation with Wakatta, which, fr