Anotablefeatureistheeveninggameofcardswhenlampsaresetforthupontheterrace，and’Iandmypamily’playfortobaccobythehour。ItishighlycharacteristicofTembinok’thathemustinventagameforhimself；highlycharacteristicofhisworshippinghouseholdthattheyshouldswearbytheabsurdinvention。Itisfoundedonpoker，playedwiththehonoursoutofmanypacks，andinconceivablydreary。ButIhaveapassionforallgames，studiedit，andamsupposedtobetheonlywhitewhoeverfairlygraspeditsprinciple：afactforwhichthewiveswithwhomIwasnototherwisepopularadmiredmewithacclamation。Itwasimpossibletobedeceived；thiswasagenuinefeeling：theywereproudoftheirprivategame，hadbeencuttothequickbythewantofinterestshowninitbyothers，andexpandedundertheflatteryofmyattention。Tembinok’putsupadoublestake，andreceivesinreturntwohandstochoosefrom：ashallowartificewhichthewivesinalltheseyearshavenotyetfathomed。Hehimself，whentalkingwithmeprivately，madenottheleastsecretthathewassecureofwinning；anditwasthusheexplainedhisrecentliberalityonboardtheEQUATOR。Heletthewivesbuytheirowntobacco，whichpleasedthematthemoment。Hewonitbackatcards，whichmadehimoncemore，andwithoutfreshexpense，thatwhichheoughttobe，-thesolefountofallindulgences。Andhesummedthematterupinthatphrasewithwhichhealmostalwaysconcludesanyaccountofhispolicy：’Mo’betta。’
Thepalacecompoundislaidwithbrokencoral，excruciatingtotheeyesandthebarefeet，butexquisitelyrakedandweeded。Ascoreormoreofbuildingslieinasortofstreetalongthepalisadeandscatteredonthemarginoftheterrace；dwelling-housesforthewivesandtheattendants，storehousesfortheking’scuriosandtreasures，spaciousmaniap’sforfeastorcouncil，someonpillarsofwood，someonpiersofmasonry。Onewasstillinhand，anewinvention，theking’slatestborn：aEuropeanframe-housebuiltforcoolnessinsidealoftymaniap’：itsroofplankedlikeaship’sdecktobearaised，shady，andyetprivatepromenade。ItwasherethekingspenthourswithRubam；hereIwouldsometimesjointhem；theplacehadamostsingularappearance；andImustsayIwasgreatlytakenwiththefancy，andjoinedwithrelishinthecounselsofthearchitects。
Supposewehadbusinesswithhismajestybyday：westrolledoverthesandandbythedwarfishpalms，exchangeda’KONAMAORI’withthecroneonduty，andenteredthecompound。Thewidesheetofcoralglaredbeforeusdeserted；allhavingstowedthemselvesindarkcanvasfromtheexcessofroom。Ihavegonetoandfrointhatlabyrinthofaplace，seekingtheking；andtheonlybreathingcreatureIcouldfindwaswhenIpeeredundertheeavesofamaniap’，andsawthebrawnybodyofoneofthewivesstretchedonthefloor，anakedAmazonplungedinnoiselessslumber。Ifitwerestillthehourofthe’morningpapers’thequestwouldbemoreeasy，thehalf-dozenobsequious，slydogssquattingonthegroundoutsideahouse，crammedasfaraspossibleinitsnarrowshadow，andturningtothekingarowofleeringfaces。Tembinok’wouldbewithin，theflapsofthecabinraised，thetradeblowingthrough，hearingtheirreport。Likejournalistsnearerhome，whentheday’snewswerescanty，thesewouldmakethemoreofitinwords；andI
haveknownonetofillupabarrenmorningwithanimaginaryconversationoftwodogs。Sometimesthekingdeignstolaugh，sometimestoquestionorjestwiththem，hisvoicesoundingshrillyfromthecabin。Byhissidehemayhavetheheir-apparent，Paul，hisnephewandadoptedson，sixyearsold，starknaked，andamodelofyounghumanbeauty。Andtherewillalwaysbethefavouriteandperhapstwootherwivesawake；fourmorelyingsupineundermatsandwhelmedinslumber。Orperhapswecamelater，fellonamoreprivatehour，andfoundTembinok’retiredinthehousewiththefavourite，anearthenwarespittoon，aleadeninkpot，andacommercialledger。Inthelast，lyingonhisbelly，hewritesfromdaytodaytheuneventfulhistoryofhisreign；andwhenthusemployedhebetrayedatouchoffretfulnessoninterruptionwithwhichIwaswellabletosympathise。Theroyalannalistoncereadmeapageorso，translatingashewent；butthepassagebeinggenealogical，andtheauthorbogglingextremelyinhisversion，I
ownIhavebeensometimesbetterentertained。Nordoesheconfinehimselftoprose，buttouchesthelyre，too，inhisleisuremoments，andpassesforthechiefbardofhiskingdom，asheisitssolepubliccharacter，leadingarchitect，andonlymerchant。
Hiscompetence，however，doesnotreachtomusic；andhisverses，whentheyareready，aretaughttoaprofessionalmusician，whosetsthemandinstructsthechorus。Askedwhathissongswereabout，Tembinok’replied，’Sweetheartsandtreesandthesea。Notallthesametrue，allthesamelie。’Foracondensedviewoflyricalpoetryexceptthatheseemstohaveforgotthestarsandflowersthiswouldbehardtomend。Thesemultifariousoccupationsbespeakinanativeandanabsoluteprinceunusualactivityofmind。
Thepalacecourtatnoonisaspottoberememberedwithawe，thevisitorscramblingthere，ontheloosestones，throughasplendidnightmareoflightandheat；butthesweepofthewinddeliversitfromfliesandmosquitoes；andwiththesetofsunitbecameheavenly。Irememberitbestonmoonlessnights。Theairwaslikeabathofmilk。Countlessshiningstarswereover-head，thelagoonpavedwiththem。Herdsofwivessquattedbycompaniesonthegravel，softlychatting。Tembinok’woulddoffhisjacket，andsitbareandsilent，perhapsmeditatingsongs；thefavouriteusuallybyhim，silentalso。Meanwhileinthemidstofthecourt，thepalacelanternswerebeinglitandmarshalledinrankupontheground-
sixoreightsquareyardsofthem；asightthatgaveonestrangeideasofthenumberof’mypamily’：suchasightasmaybeseenaboutduskinacornerofsomegreatterminusathome。Presentlythesefaredoffintoallcornersoftheprecinct，lightingthelastlaboursoftheday，lightingoneafteranothertotheirrestthatprodigiouscompanyofwomen。Afewlingeredinthemiddleofthecourtforthecard-party，andsawthehonoursshuffledanddealt，andTembinok’deliberatingbetweenhistwo；hands，andthequeenslosingtheirtobacco。Thenthesealsowerescatteredandextinguished；andtheirplacewastakenbyagreatbonfire，thenight-lightofthepalace。Whenthiswasnomore，smallerfiresburnedlikewiseatthegates。Theseweretendedbythecrones，unseen，unsleeping-notalwaysunheard。Shouldanyapproachinthedarkhours，aguardedalertmadethecircuitofthepalisade；
eachsentrysignalledherneighbourwithastone；therattleoffallingpebblespassedanddiedaway；andthewardensofTembinok’
crouchedintheirplacessilentasbefore。
CHAPTERIV-THEKINGOFAPEMAMA：EQUATORTOWNANDTHEPALACE
FIVEpersonsweredetailedtowaituponus。UncleParker，whobroughtustoddyandgreennuts，wasanelderly，almostanoldman，withthespirits，theindustry，andthemoralsofaboyoften。
Hisfacewasancient，droll，anddiabolical，theskinstretchedovertautsinews，likeasailontheguide-rope；andhesmiledwitheverymuscleofhishead。Hisnutsmustbecountedeveryday，orhewoulddeceiveusinthetale；theymustbedailyexamined，orsomewouldprovetobeunhusked；nothingbuttheking’sname，andscarcelythat，wouldholdhimtohisduty。Afterhistoilswereoverhewasgivenapipe，matches，andtobacco，andsatonthefloorinthemaniap’tosmoke。Hewouldnotseemtomovefromhisposition，andyeteveryday，whenthethingsfelltobereturnedtheplughaddisappeared；hehadfoundthemeanstoconcealitintheroof，whencehecouldradiantlyproduceitonthemorrow。
Althoughthispieceoflegerdemainwasperformedregularlybeforethreeorfourpairsofeyes，wecouldnevercatchhiminthefact；
althoughwesearchedafterhewasgone，wecouldneverfindthetobacco。SuchwerethediversionsofUncleParker，amannearingsixty。Buthewaspunishedaccordinguntohisdeeds：Mrs。
Stevensontookafancytopainthim，andthesufferingsofthesitterwerebeyonddescription。
ThreelassescamefromthepalacetodoourwashingandracketwithAhFu。Theywereofthelowestclass，hangers-onkeptfortheconvenienceofmerchantskippers，probablylow-born，perhapsout-
islanders，withlittlerefinementwhetherofmannerorappearance，butlikelyandjollyenoughwenchesintheirway。WecalledoneGUTTERSNIPE，foryoumayfindherimageintheslumsofanycity；
thesamelean，dark-eyed，eager，vulgarface，thesamesudden，hoarseguffaws，thesameforwardandyetanxiousmanner，aswithatailofaneyeonthepoliceman：onlythepolicemanherewasaliveking，andhistruncheonarifle。Idoubtifyoucouldfindanywhereoutoftheislands，oroftenthere，theparallelofFATTY，amountainofagirl，whomusthaveweighednearasmanystonesasshecountedsummers，couldhavegivenagoodaccountofalife-
guardsman，hadthefaceofababy，andappliedhervastmechanicalforcesalmostexclusivelytoplay。Buttheywereallthreeofthesamemerryspirit。Ourwashingwasconductedinagameofromps；
andtheyfledandpursued，andsplashed，andpelted，androlledeachotherinthesand，andkeptupacontinuousnoiseofcriesandlaughterlikeholidaychildren。Indeed，andhoweverstrangetheirownfunctioninthataustereestablishment，weretheynotescapedforthedayfromthelargestandstrictestLadies’SchoolintheSouthSeas?
Ourfifthattendantwasnolessapersonthantheroyalcook。Hewasstrikinglyhandsomebothinfaceandbody，lazyasaslave，andinsolentasabutcher’sboy。Hesleptandsmokedonourpremisesinvariousgracefulattitudes；butsofarfromhelpingAhFu，hewasnotatthepainstowatchhim。Itmaybesaidofhimthathecametolearn，andremainedtoteach；andhislessonswereattimesdifficulttostomach。Forexample，hewassenttofillabucketfromthewell。Abouthalf-wayhefoundmywifewateringheronions，changedbucketswithher，andleavinghertheempty，returnedtothekitchenwiththefull。Onanotheroccasionhewasgivenadishofdumplingsfortheking，wastoldtheymustbeeatenhot，andthatheshouldcarrythemasfastaspossible。Thewretchsetoffattherateofaboutamileinthehour，headinair，toesturnedout。Mypatience，afteramonthoftrial，failedmeatthesight。Ipursued，caughthimbyhistwobigshoulders，andthrustinghimbeforeme，ranwithhimdownthehill，overthesands，andthroughtheapplaudingvillage，totheSpeakHouse，wherethekingwasthenholdingapow-wow。Hehadtheimpudencetopretendhewasinternallyinjuredbymyviolence，andtoprofessseriousapprehensionsforhislife。
Allthisweendured；forthewaysofTembinok’aresummary，andI
wasnotyetripetotakeahandintheman’sdeath。Butinthemeanwhile，herewasmyunfortunateChinaboyslavingforthepair，andpresentlyhefellsick。IwasnowinthepositionofCimondainLantenac，andindeedallthecharactersinQUATRE-VINGT-TREIZE：tocontinuetosparetheguilty，Imustsacrificetheinnocent。I
tooktheusualcourseandtriedtosaveboth，withtheusualconsequenceoffailure。Wellrehearsed，Iwentdowntothepalace，foundthekingalone，andobligedhimwithavastamountofrigmarole。Thecookwastoooldtolearn：Ifearedhewasnotmakingprogress；howifwehadaboyinstead?-boysweremoreteachable。Itwasallinvain；thekingpiercedthroughmydisguisestotherootofthefact；sawthatthecookhaddesperatelymisbehaved；andsatawhileglooming。’Ithinkhetavvytoomuch，’hesaidatlast，withgrimconcision；andimmediatelyturnedthetalktoothersubjects。Thesamedayanotherhighofficer，thesteward，appearedinthecook’splace，and，Iamboundtosay，provedcivilandindustrious。
AssoonasIleft，itseemsthekingcalledforaWinchesterandstrolledoutsidethepalisade，awaitingthedefaulter。ThatdayTembinok’worethewoman’sfrock；aslikeasnot，hismake-upwascompletedbyapithhelmetandbluespectacles。Conceivetheglaringstretchofsandhills，thedwarfpalmswiththeirnoon-dayshadows，thelineofthepalisade，thecronesentrieseachbyasmallclearfirecookingsyrupontheirposts-andthischimaerawaitingwithhisdeadlyengine。Tohim，enteratlastthecook，strollingdownthesandhillfromEquatorTown，listless，vainandgraceful；withnothoughtofalarm。Assoonashewaswellwithinrange，thetravestiedmonarchfiredthesixshotsoverhishead，athisfeet，andoneitherhandofhim：thesecondApemamawarning，startlinginitself，fatalinsignificance，forthenexttimehismajestywillaimtohit。Iamtoldthekingisacrackshot；thatwhenheaimstokill，thegravemaybegotready；andwhenheaimstomiss，missesbysonearamarginthattheculprittastessixtimesthebitternessofdeath。TheeffectuponthecookIhadanopportunityofseeingformyself。MywifeandIwerereturningfromthesea-sideoftheisland，whenwespiedonecomingtomeetusataveryquick，disorderedpace，betweenawalkandarun。Aswedrewnearerwesawitwasthecook，besidehimselfwithsomeemotion，hisusualwarm，mulattocolourdeclinedintoabluishpallor。Hepasseduswithoutwordorgesture，staringonuswiththefaceofaSatan，andplungedonacrossthewoodfortheunpeopledquarteroftheislandandthelong，desertbeach，wherehemightragetoandfrounseen，andfrothoutthevialsofhiswrath，fear，andhumiliation。Doubtlessinthecursesthathethereutteredtotheburstingsurfandthetropicbirds，thenameoftheKaupoi-therichman-wasfrequentlyrepeated。Ihadmadehimthelaughing-stockofthevillageintheaffairoftheking’sdumplings；Ihadbroughthimbymymachinationsintodisgraceandtheimmediatejeopardyofhisdays；last，andperhapsbitterest，hehadfoundmetherebythewaytospyuponhiminthehourofhisdisorder。