J. Allan Dunn

“ True, there were the sticks that spat fire and death, but cunning might prevail. And then he frowned, as doubt and fear smote him. For the white man’s canoe, without sails, without paddles, was beginning to move. Yells came from the savages left in the canoe, clinging to the rail, being dragged along with increasing speed. Yells came from the flotilla, from the shore. Tiburi’s eyes rolled. What magic was this?
“Fear not, Tiburi,” said Hooper. “It is the servants of Him Who Walks Under the Water who move us. We shall go out a little way. Here are gifts.” ”

“ Thompson and two men brought up the trade and displayed it on deck. Tiburi’s eyes glittered. He had a better brain than his fellows but it was apt to move in a groove, to hold but one idea at a time. Now it was greed, tinged with vanity. What a showing he would make before his wives, especially the new ones! But fear was still in the background.
“Tell your men to put them in the canoes, Tiburi. I shall go ashore with you.” ”

“ Everything we do is wonderful. We constantly perform miracles. That is why Steiner was able to handle them, once he had shown what his guns could do. All the old tricks can be played in full force and this is the time to pull them off. Some of them, at least. If Steiner sees us in combination with Tiburi he’ll capitulate without trouble and we’ll let him read his papers while we salvage the Moanamanu. It begins to look as if it was all ridiculously simple, thanks to you, Manning. I can talk their dialect and I’ll coax ’em in, while you and Fong stand by for your cues. ”

“ Steiner had not come to them bringing gifts. Steiner had stolen their young women. Steiner had fought them off with magic sticks that shot fire and missiles that tore holes through which life passed out swiftly. ”

“ The god—Him Who Walks Under the Water—was not in evidence. If they took the canoe and killed the white men they would have all the treasure; they would have their skulls. Perhaps they could do it before the god interfered. ”

“ Tiburi shuddered. Hooper made a salaam in front of Fong and the Chinaman lifted his hand. The whale-boat was lowered and four rowers got into it with the four men Edwards had brought. The trade was put into the canoe and Tiburi and his bodyguard of ten went overside. Hooper gave an order or two to Andersen and with Thompson prepared to enter the whale boat after a word with Edwards. All the white men were fully armed.
At the gunwale Hooper paused, turned and dived into the cabin. Manning was now on deck, standing with Fong at the rail nearest to the canoes. ”

“ We fed it to the dogs. It was tough and too salty. Those we took alive we keep for our children to look at. Soon we may kill them. Now our women make a mock of them and they furnish us with amusement. ”