The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1894-05-26

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CHAPTER IN.-Continued.
Is he spoke, a sudden idea, sug-
gested by his words, struck Felix s
mind. Superstition is the great lever
by which TO move the savage intelIi-
gcnce. Gathering up few dry leaves
and fragments OF stick on the shore,
he laid them together in pile, and
awaited in silence the arrival of the
foremost islanders. The first canoe adj
vanccd slowly and cautiously, the men
in it cying these proceedings with
evident suspicion; the rest hung back
with their spears in array, and their
hands just ready to use them with eff
feet should occasion demand it.
The leader of the first canoe. coming
close to the shore. jumped out upon
the reef in shallow water Half a
dozen Of his followers jumped after
him without hesitation, and brandIshed
their weapons round their heads as
they advanced, in savage unison. But
Felix, pretending hardly to notice
these hostile demonstrations stepped
boldly up toward his little pile with
great dciiberation, though trembling
inwardly, ana proceeded before their
eyes to take match from his box.
which he displayed ostcntatiously, all
glittering in the sun, to the foremost
savage. The leader stood by and
watched him close with eyes of silent
wonder. Then Felix, knccling down,
struck the match on the box, and APP
piled it, as it lighted, TO the dry leaves
reside him.
\ chorus of establishment burst
unanimously from the delighted ma
tiyes as the dry leaves leaped all at
once into Il tongue of flame, and the
little pile caught quickly from the fire
in the vcsta.
The leader looked hard at the two
white faces, and then at the fire on the
beach, with evident appreciation. ''ltis
as Tu-hi a-ki'a said" he exclaimed at
last with profound awe. They are
spirits from the sun, and they carry
with them pure fire in shining boxes. y
Then, advancing pace and point
ing toward the canoe, he motioncd
Felix and MUrici to take their scat,
within it with native savage polite
ness. "Hu-kiIa-kila has sent for you,
he said, in his UrandCst ariStOCratic
air, for your chief is Il gentleman. He
wishes 10 receive you. He saw your
messagc-tire on the reef last nIght,an
he knew You had como. He has made
you very great Taboo. He has put
YOU under protection Of Fire and
Water"
The people in the boats, with one
accord, shouted out in wild chorus, as
if to confirm his words, Taboo, Taboo,
Tu-kiIa-kiIa ha, said it, Taboo Ia
boo, Ware Fire! Ware Water
Though the dialect in which they
spoke differed somcw hat from that in
use in Fiji, Felix could still make ont
with care almost every word of what
the chief had said to him: and the uni
vcrsal Polynesian expression, Taboo, y
In particular. somewhat treasured him
as to their friendly Intentions Among
remote heather islanders like these,
he felt sure, the very word itself was
far too sacred to he taken in vain.
They would respect its iuviolabilitv.
He turned round to Murirl. Its our
one chance left Of lille now. Don't be
too terrified; there is still some hope.
They say somebody they call Tu-kIla-
* liza has tabOOcd Us. NOOnc will dare
10 hurt rs against 50 great a Taboo; for
Tu-kila-kila is evidently some very
important king or chief. You must
step into the boat. ltcan't be avoided.
If any harm is threatened, be sure [
won't forgctmy promise
Muricl shrank back in alarm, and
chung still to his arm now as naturally
as she would haze chung to Il brothers..
con- Mr. Thurstan, she cried re
liz, don't know what TO say; can't 90
with them.
Felix put his arm gently round her