es.

This was indeed good news to us, and we could hardly find words to
express our gratitude to the chief and to the missionary.

"And what of Avatea?" inquired Jack.

The missionary replied by pointing to a group of natives, in the midst
of whom the girl stood. Beside her was a tall, strapping fellow, whose
noble mien and air of superiority bespoke him a chief of no ordinary
kind. "That youth is her lover. He came this very morning in his
war-canoe to treat with Tararo for Avatea. He is to be married in a few
days, and afterwards returns to his island home with his bride."

"That's capital!" said Jack as he stepped up to the savage and gave him
a hearty shake of the hand. "I wish you joy, my lad!--And you too,
Avatea!"

As Jack spoke, Avatea's lover took him by the hand and led him to the
spot where Tararo and the missionary stood, surrounded by most of the
chief men of the tribe. The girl herself followed and stood on his left
hand, while her lover stood on his right, and commanding silence, made
the following speech, which was translated by the missionary:

"Young friend, you have seen few years, but your head is old. Your
heart, also, is large and very brave. I and Avatea are your debtors;
and we wish, in the midst of this assembly, to acknowledge our debt, and
to say that it is one which we can never repay. You have risked your
life for one who was known to you only for a few days. But she was a
woman in distress, and that was enough to secure to her the aid of a
Christian man. We, who live in these islands of the sea, know that the
true Christians always act thus. Their religion is one of love and
kindness. We thank God that so many Christians have been sent here: we
hope many more will come. Remember that I and Avatea will think of you,
and pray for you and your brave comrades, when you are far away."

To this kind speech Jack returned a short, sailor-like reply, in which
he insisted that he had only done for Avatea what he would have done for
any woman under the sun. But Jack's forte did not lie in speech-making,
so he terminated rather abruptly by seizing the chief's hand and shaking
it violently, after which he made a hasty retreat.

"Now, then, Ralph and Peterkin," said Jack as we mingled with the crowd,
"it seems to me that, the object we came here for having been
satisfactorily accomplished, we have nothing more to do but get ready
for sea as fast as we can, and hurrah for old Englan