The King
came back alone, leaving his people standing about and
examining the goat. He was much excited, and talked and
gesticulated violently.
"He says--" said Stedman; "he says----"
"What? yes, go on."
"He says--goodness me!--what do you think he says?"
"Well, what does he say?" cried Gordon, in great excitement.
"Don't keep it all to yourself."
"He says," said Stedman, "that we are deceived; that he is no
longer King of the Island of Opeki; that he is in great fear
of us, and that he has got himself into no end of trouble. He
says he sees that we are indeed mighty men, that to us he is
as helpless as the wild boar before the javelin of the
hunter."
"Well, he's right," said Gordon. "Go on."
"But that which we ask is no longer his to give. He has sold
his kingship and his right to this island to another king, who
came to him two days ago in a great canoe, and who made noises
as we do--with guns, I suppose he means--and to whom he sold
the island for a watch that he has in a bag around his neck.
And that he signed a paper, and made marks on a piece of bark,
to show that he gave up the island freely and forever.
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