Polynesian., 1845-04-19

dnO lNat IL was HOl Ut All ploodoie 'HS GiSo'
enemy Of mankind would appear personally
among them even If he was a cannibal, and
an immediate search was resolved upon
The whole force Of the tribe was mustered,
and arms laid by as OF no farther use since
the Prince Of Peace came amongst them,
were again brought out, and made ready for
the conflict, which none doubted must follow
the discovery Of their enemy, still by most
believed to be none other than Satan or his
myrmidons. For many days the search was
f%ruitless, and the Young chief whose wife
had been the last victim, had quite dcspalred
Of ever solving the mystery of her disap-
pearance or being revenged upon the instru-
ment Of her abduction. A council Of the
tribe was called, and among them appeared
the missionary; many arguments pro and
con were used as to the character of their
enemy, and the utility of farther search,
when it was finally resolved to prosecute it
no farther at present, but to keep always
upon the alert with the hope of detecting the
enemy, whenever he should again appear
among them.
At this ~iuncture Of affairs the missionary
begged to be heard. He assured them they
had no supernatural foe to deal with, and
mentioned the caves he had often heard Of
as being well calculated for concealmcnt,
and advised a search there. He had hardly
mentioned the caves, which had been unac-
countably overlooked, when Hammec sprang
to his feet,-'He has said it, our father has
said it, follow me, my warriors!' and he
hurried to the beach followed by a large
party Of friends.
Their war canoes, as long laid by as had
been their arms, and for the same reason,
were launched, and they steered for the
entrance to the caves. But what is that
, now within the entrance to the principal
cave? A canoe, and standing upright in it
a tall gaunt figure, naked, and his long white
hair blowing wildly to the winds. He has
shot like an arrow into the cave and disap-
peared; but the young chief has seen him,
and in him the murderer of his wife! He
shouted to his friends, and pointed to the
cave, but they had seen nothing, and re-
garded him as beside himself with grief
They entered the first cave, and leaving
their canoes upon the beech at the foot
OF the rock which rose like a wall upon
either side, prepared to prosecute their way
on foot. Hammce impatient at the delay
hurried forward, and again caught a glimpse
of the old man he had seen in the canoe. his
white hair streaming behind him as he fled
before them towards the other cave. A
shout from his companions in the rear
checked him, and he waited for them to
come up. They had found the old mans
canoe secreted in a cleft Of the rock, and
after hearing the young chiefs account
of what he had seen, they were all eager to
push forward, convinced their enemy was
mortal like themselves.
They soon entered the second cave. and
here found undeniable evidence of the late
presence OF some animal who lived on flesh,
for bones half picked-human bonesi-were
lying around a fire still burning. Hammee
cast one look upon all that remained of the
partner Of his life, the mother of his chill
dren, and in silence hurried forward, painting
for revenge.
They now stood within the entrance to
the last cave, and streaming Town through
q insure IN the roof a raw of liphf fall fill
upon the figure of the old cannibal, standing
at the farther extremity, gnashing his teeth
like q lion at hax and nronarad ~ MAA.