"Worse luck," grumbled Finland, whose wanderings had made a barbarian of him; "still, you ain't going to marry Johnson."

"Oh no! I shall buy him if I can. Listen, Jack. When I left Koiau, my father gave me pearls to sell here. But I have never sold them--oh no! I had no need to sell them. Mr. Johnson is poor--he wants money--I will give those pearls to him if he lets me go free."

"Then this missionary chap will collar you, Tera; and I don't take much stock in that lot."

"If I go with Misi, you come also, Jack. In Koiau we may marry."

"In Koiau your father may make you marry some big chief," said Jack, wisely, "and I should be left out in the cold."

Before Tera could protest that she would be nobody's wife save his, Johnson appeared, hurrying towards them with an angry look on his face. In the silver moonlight he could see the lovers plainly, and their attitude sent a thrill of rage through his heart.

"Bithiah," he said harshly, "this is not an hour for you to be out. Come! My mother is waiting for us."

"Tera is free to come and go as she pleases," struck in Finland, hotly.

Johnson turned on him with restrained passion.

"You call her by a heathen name; you think of her as a heathen girl. Oh, I know you, Mr. Finland, you beach-comber."

Finland, full of rage at the contemptuous word, would have struck the minister, but Tera flung herself between them.

"No, no, I must go!" she said, and flung a last word and look at Jack. "Toë fua" [farewell] said she, and walked away with Johnson.

 

 

 

 

 CHAPTER II

PEARLS OF PRICE

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