\"Myword，nighthestop，\"thecaptainobjected，thenadded，asaconcessionagainsttheknownrulethatvisitorswerenotpermittedaboardafternightfall：\"Youcomeonboard，boystop’malongboat。\"
VanHorngallantlyhelpedtheoldmantoclambertotherail，straddlethebarbedwire，andgainthedeck。Ishikolawasadirtyoldsavage。Oneofhistambos（tambobeingbeche—de—merandMelanesianfor\"taboo\"）wasthatwaterunavoidablemustnevertouchhisskin。Hewholivedbythesaltsea，inalandoftropicdownpour，religiouslyshunnedcontactwithwater。Heneverwentswimmingorwading，andalwaysfledtoshelterfromashower。Notthatthiswastrueoftherestofhistribe。Itwasthepeculiartambolaiduponhimbythedevil—devildoctors。Othertribesmenthedevil—devildoctorstabooedagainsteatingshark，orhandlingturtle，orcontactingwithcrocodilesorthefossilremainsofcrocodiles，orfromeverbeingsmirchedbytheprofanityofawoman’stouchorofawoman’sshadowcastacrossthepath。
SoIshikola，whosetambowaswater，wascrustedwiththefilthofyears。Hewassealedlikealeper，and，weazen—facedandage—
shrunken，hehobbledhorriblyfromanancientspear—thrusttothethighthattwistedhistorsodroopinglyoutofthevertical。Buthisoneeyegleamedbrightlyandwickedly，andVanHornknewthatitobservedasmuchasdidbothhisowneyes。
VanHornshookhandswithhim——anhonourheaccordedonlychiefs——