ed, rather
than shouted, while his face blazed with fury, "Come on, the whole
nation of you, an ye like it, and do your worst!"

It seemed as though the challenge had been literally accepted; for every
savage on the ground ran precipitately at Jack with club and spear, and
doubtless would speedily have poured out his brave blood on the sod had
not the teacher rushed in between them, and raising his voice to its
utmost, cried:

"Stay your hands, warriors! It is not your part to judge in this
matter! It is for Tararo, the chief, to say whether or not the young
man shall live or die!"

The natives were arrested; and I know not whether it was the gratifying
acknowledgment of his superiority thus made by the teacher, or some
lingering feeling of gratitude for Jack's former aid in time of need,
that influenced Tararo, but he stepped forward, and waving his hand,
said to his people, "Desist. The young man's life is mine." Then
turning to Jack, he said, "You have forfeited your liberty and life to
me. Submit yourself, for we are more numerous than the sand upon the
shore. You are but one: why should you die?"

"Villain!" exclaimed Jack passionately. "I may die, but assuredly I
shall not perish alone! I will not submit until you promise that this
girl shall not be injured!"

"You are very bold," replied the chief haughtily, "but very foolish.
Yet I will say that Avatea shall not be sent away--at least, for three
days."

"You had better accept these terms," whispered the teacher entreatingly.
"If you persist in this mad defiance, you will be slain and Avatea will
be lost. Three days are worth having."

Jack hesitated a moment, then lowered his club, and throwing it moodily
to the ground, crossed his arms on his breast and hung down his head in
silence.

Tararo seemed pleased by his submission, and told the teacher to say
that he did not forget his former services, and therefore would leave
him free as to his person, but that the schooner would be detained till
he had further considered the matter.

While the teacher translated this, he approached as near to where Avatea
was standing as possible without creating suspicion, and whispered to
her a few words in the native language. Avatea, who, during the whole
of the foregoing scene, had stood leaning against the tree perfectly
passive, and seemingly quite uninterested in all that was going on,
replied by a single rapid glance of her dark eye, which was instant