Theygotherrighted，andthoughshewasstillfullofwaterputthechildonboard。Themainsailhadbeencarriedaway，butthejibstilldrewhersluggishlyalong，andFrancoisandthewomanswamasternandworkedtherudderwiththeirhands。Thecoldwascruel；thefatigue，astimewenton，becameexcessive；andinthatpreserveofsharks，fearhuntedthem。Againandagain，Francois，thehalf-breed，wouldhavedesistedandgonedown；butthewoman，wholebloodofanamphibiousrace，stillsupportedhimwithcheerfulwords。IamremindedofawomanofHawaiiwhoswamwithherhusband，Idarenotsayhowmanymiles，inahighsea，andcameashoreatlastwithhisdeadbodyinherarms。Itwasaboutfiveintheevening，afterninehours’swimming，thatFrancoisandhiswifereachedlandatRotoava。Thegallantfightwaswon，andinstantlythemorechildishsideofnativecharacterappears。Theyhadsupped，andtoldandretoldtheirstory，drippingastheycame；

　　thefleshofthewoman，whomMrs。Stevensonhelpedtoshift，wascoldasstone；andFrancois，havingchangedtoadrycottonshirtandtrousers，passedtheremainderoftheeveningonmyfloorandbetweenopendoorways，inathoroughdraught。YetFrancois，thesonofaFrenchfather，speaksexcellentFrenchhimselfandseemsintelligent。

　　Itwasourfirstideathatthecatechist，truetohisevangelicalvocation，wasclothingthenakedfromhissuperfluity。ThenitcameoutthatFrancoiswasbutdealingwithhisown。Theclotheswerehis，sowasthechest，sowasthehouse。Francoiswasinfactthelandlord。YetyouobservehehadhungbackontheverandahwhileTanieratriedhis’prenticehanduponthelocks：andevennow，whenhistruecharacterappeared，theonlyusehemadeoftheestatewastoleavetheclothesofhisfamilydryingonthefence。

　　Tanierawasstillthefriendofthehouse，stillfedthepoultry，stillcameaboutusonhisdailyvisits，Francois，duringtheremainderofhisstay，holdingbashfullyaloof。Andtherewasstrangermatter。SinceFrancoishadlostthewholeloadofhiscutter，thehalftonofcopra，anaxe，bowls，knives，andclothes-

　　sincehehadinamannertobegintheworldagain，andhisnecessaryflourwasnotyetboughtorpaidfor-Iproposedtoadvancehimwhatheneededontherent。Tomyenduringamazementherefused，andthereasonhegave-ifthatcanbecalledareasonwhichbutdarkenscounsel-wasthatTanierawashisfriend。Hisfriend，youobserve；nothiscreditor。Iinquiredintothat，andwasassuredthatTaniera，anexileinastrangeisle，mightpossiblybeindebthimself，butcertainlywasnoman’screditor。

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