fterwards was this feat
repeated.
If the reader has not observed ere this that I was the declared admirer of
Miss Fayaway, all I can say is, that he is little conversant with affairs
of the heart, and I certainly shall not trouble myself to enlighten him
any farther. Out of the calico I had brought from the ship a dress was
made for this lovely girl. In it she looked, I must confess, something
like an opera-dancer. The drapery of the latter damsel generally commences
a little above the elbows, but my island beauty's began at the waist, and
terminated sufficiently far above the ground to reveal the most bewitching
ankle in the universe.
The day that Fayaway first wore this robe was rendered memorable by a new
acquaintance being introduced to me. In the afternoon I was lying in the
house, when I heard a great uproar outside; but being by this time pretty
well accustomed to the wild halloos which were almost continually ringing
through the valley, I paid little attention to it, until old Marheyo,
under the influence of some strange excitement, rushed into my presence
and communicated the astounding tidings, "Marnoo pemi!" which being
interpreted, implied that an individual by the name of Marnoo was
approaching. My worthy old friend evidently expected that this
intelligence would produce a great effect upon me, and for a time he stood
earnestly regarding me, as if curious to see how I should conduct myself,
but as I remained perfectly unmoved, the old gentleman darted out of the
house again, in as great a hurry as he had entered it.
"Marnoo, Marnoo," cogitated I, "I have never heard that name before. Some
distinguished character, I presume, from the prodigious riot the natives
are making"; the tumultuous noise drawing nearer and nearer every moment,
while "Marnoo!--Marnoo!" was shouted by every tongue.
I made up my mind that some savage warrior of consequence, who had not yet
enjoyed the honour of an audience, was desirous of paying his respects on
the present occasion. So vain had I become by the lavish attention to
which I had been accustomed, that I felt half inclined, as a punishment
for such neglect, to give this Marnoo a cold reception, when the excited
throng came within view, convoying one of the most striking specimens of
humanity that I ever beheld.
The stranger could not have been more than twenty-five years of age, and
was a little above the ordinary height; had he been a single hair's
breadth taller,
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