Then he pointed to himself
again and said "Jack," and laying his finger on the breast of the
chief, looked inquiringly into his face. The chief instantly understood
him, and said "Tararo" twice distinctly. Jack repeated it after him,
and the chief, nodding his head approvingly, said "Chuck," on hearing
which Peterkin exploded with laughter; but Jack turned, and with a
frown rebuked him, saying; "I must look even more indignantly at you
than I feel, Peterkin, you rascal, for these fellows don't like to be
laughed at." Then turning towards the youngest of the women, who was
seated at the door of the bower, he pointed to her; whereupon the chief
said "Avatea," and pointing towards the sun, raised his finger slowly
towards the zenith, where it remained steadily for a minute or two.
"What can that mean, I wonder?" said Jack, looking puzzled.
"Perhaps," said Peterkin, "the chief means she is an angel come down to
stay here for a while. If so, she's an uncommonly black one!"
We did not feel quite satisfied with this explanation, so Jack went up
to her and said "Avatea." The woman smiled sadly, and nodded her head,
at the same time pointing to her breast and then to the sun, in the
same manner as the chief had done. We were much puzzled to know what
this could signify, but as there was no way of solving our difficulty
we were obliged to rest content.
Jack now made signs to the natives to follow him, and taking up his
axe, he led them to a place where the battle had been fought.
Pages:
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205