The primal lust had burst the slender bar,

Weak white man's morals. Now to slay and slay.

Darkling, he fixed Malua with his eyes,

Noting each shadow of his changing thoughts,

When the dear dreams centred on Taka, dreams

Dimming his sight. Holding his lips apart,

He slowly rose, Uhila following,

44

For in the dark the music of her face

Smote on the boy till he could bear no more

The feasting and the firelight; silently

He rose and stole away. The night was still,

And "Taka, Taka, Taka," rang his soul

Against the stars. He felt infinity

Above him brood, and knew the mighty gods,

Who once in every lifetime drop an hour

Of their remembrance fraught with godlike bliss

To luckless man, had turned on him their eyes.

Unconsciously his feet retraced the path

To the dark pool where joy had birth that day.

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