Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-07-19
1y GRaNTAklENs

wounded Felix, in particular, now
came daily in the morning with ex-
ceptional gifts of fish, fruit, and flow
ers: they would bring crab from the
sea, or Joint OF turtle meat. For
give us, o king" they cried, prostrat-
Ing themselves humbly. eve did not
mean to hurt you; we thought your
time had really come. You are ko-
rong. We would not offend you. Do
not refuse us your showers because OF
our sin. We are very penitent. We
will do what you ask us. Your look is
poison. See, here iswoOd: here leaves
and fire: we are but your meat: choose
and cook which you will of us,'
It was useless Felix's trying to ex-
plain to them that he wanted no vic
Tins, and no Precipitation. The more
he protested, the more they brought
gifts. He is a very great god" they
exclaimed. He wants nothing from
US. What can we give him that will
be an acceptable gift? Shall we offer
him ourselves, our wives, our chill
dren?"
AS for the women, when they saw
how thoroughly frightened OF them
Muriel now was, they couldn't find
means to express their regret and de-
votion. Mothers brought their little
children, whom she had patted on the
head. and offered them, just outside
the line, as presents for her accept
ance. They explained to her Shadow
that they never meant to hurt her, and
that, if only she would venture with
out the line, as OF old, all should be
we'll, and they would love and adore
her. Mali translated to her mistress
these speeches and prayers. Them
say, You come back, Queenie,'" she
explained in her bl oxen Queensland
English. '''Boupari women love you
very much. Boupari women glad you
come. You kind: you beautiful. All
BOupari men and women very much
pleased with you and the gentleman,
because you give back him cocoanut
and fruit that you pick in the storm,
and because you bring down fresh fire
from Heaven. ,"
Gradually, after several days, Felix's
confidence was SO far restored that he
ventured to stroll beyond the line
again: and he found himself, indeed,
most popular among the people. In
various ways he picked up gradually
disliked Tu-Kila-kila, and liked him
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him as Tu-kila-Kilas natural enemy
What it could all mean he did not yet
understand, though some inklings of
an explanation occasionally occurred
to him. Oh, how he longed now for
the Month Of Birds to end, in order
that he might pay his long-deferred
visit to the mysterious Frenchman,
from whose voice his Shadow had fed
on that Hateful evening with such sud-
den precipitency. The Frenchman, he
judged, must have been long on the
island, and could probably give him
some satisfactory solution of this alb
struse problem.
So he was glad, indeed, when one
evening, some weeks later, his
Shadow, observing the sky narrowly,
remarked to him in a low voice, ''NeW
moon tomorrow! The Month of Birds
will then be up. In the morning you
can go and see your brother god at the
Abode of Birds without breaking taboo
The Month of Turtles begins at sum
rise. Ny family god is turtle, SO 1
know the dav for it. ="
So great was Felix's Impotence to
settle this question. that almost before
the sun was up next day he had set
forth from his hut, accom- panied, as
usual, by his faithful Shadow Their
way was past Tu-Kila-Kila's temple.
AS they went by the entrance with
bamboo posts, Felix happened to
glance aside through the gate to the
sacred enclosure. Early as it was, Tu-
Kila-Kila was a-foot already; and, to
Felix's great surprise, was pacing up
and down, with that stealthy, wary
look upon his cunning that Muriel had
so particularly noted on the day Of
their first arrival. His spear stood in
his hand, ana his tomahawk hung by
his side; he peered about him suspic-
iously, with a cautious glace, as he
walked round and round the sacred
tree he guarded so continually. There
was something weird and awful in the
sight of that savage god, thus con-
demned by his own superstition and
the custom of his people to tramp
ceaselessly up and down before the
sacred banyan.
At sight of Felix, however, a sudden
burst OF frenzy seemed to possess at
once all TuKila-Kila' limbs. He
brandished his spear violently, and set
himself Systematically in posture of
defense. His brow grew black, and his
eyes darted out eternal hate and sus-
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instant attack, and was prepared with
all his might and main to resist aggres-
sion. Yet he never offered to desert
his post by the tree or to assume the
offensive. Clearly, he was guarding
the sacred grove itself with jealous
cure, and was as eager for its safety as
for his own life and honor.
Felix passed on, wondering what 1t
all could mean. and turned with an in
quiring glance .to his trembling
Shadow AS for Toxic, he had held his
face averted meanwhile, lest he should
behold the great god, and be scorched
to cinder; but in answer to Felix s
mute inquiry he murmured low; "Was
Tu-Kila-Kila there? Were all things
right? Was he on guard at his post
by the tree alreadv?"
YES" Felix replied, with that weird
sense of mystery creeping over him
now more profoundly than ever. He
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