按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
a native teacher； who for seven years had been Lotu； ever since the day he had
been saved from the hot oven by Dr。 James Ellery Brown at the trifling expense
of one hundred sticks of tobacco； two cotton blankets； and a large bottle of
painkiller。 At the last moment； after twenty hours of solitary supplication
and prayer； Narau's ears had heard the call to go forth with John Starhurst on
the mission to the mountains。
〃Master； I will surely go with thee；〃 he had announced。
John Starhurst had hailed him with sober delight。 Truly； the Lord was with him
thus to spur on so broken…spirited a creature as Narau。
〃I am indeed without spirit； the weakest of the Lord's vessels；〃 Narau
explained； the first day in the canoe。
〃You should have faith； stronger faith；〃 the missionary chided him。
Another canoe journeyed up the Rewa that day。 But it journeyed an hour astern；
and it took care not to be seen。 This canoe was also the property of Ra Vatu。
In it was Erirola； Ra Vatu's first cousin and trusted henchman； and in the
small basket that never left his hand was a whale tooth。 It was a magnificent
tooth； fully six inches long； beautifully proportioned； the ivory turned
yellow and purple with age。 This tooth was likewise the property of Ra Vatu；
and in Fiji； when such a tooth goes forth； things usually happen。 For this is
the virtue of the whale tooth： Whoever accepts it cannot refuse the request
that may accompany it or follow it。 The request may be anything from a human
life to a tribal alliance； and no Fijian is so dead to honor as to deny the
request when once the tooth has been accepted。 Sometimes the request hangs
fire； or the fulfilment is delayed； with untoward consequences。
High up the Rewa； at the village of a chief； Mongondro by name； John Starhurst
rested at the end of the second day of the journey。 In the morning； attended
by Narau； he expected to start on foot for the smoky mountains that were now
green and velvety with nearness。 Mongondro was a sweet…tempered； mild…mannered
little old chief； short…sighted and afflicted with elephantiasis； and no
longer inclined toward the turbulence of war。 He received the missionary with
warm hospitality； gave him food from his own table； and even discussed
religious matters with him。 Mongondro was of an inquiring bent of mind； and
pleased John Starhurst greatly by asking him to account for the existence and
beginning of things。 When the missionary had finished his summary of the
Creation according to Genesis； he saw that Mongondro was deeply affected。 The
little old chief smoked silently for some time。 Then he took the pipe from
his mouth and shook his head sadly。
〃It cannot be；〃 he said。 〃I； Mongondro； in my youth； was a good workman with
the adze。 Yet three months did it take me to make a canoea small canoe； a
very small canoe。 And you say that all this land and water was made by one
man〃
〃Nay； was made by one God； the only true God；〃 the missinary interrupted。
〃It is the same thing；〃 Mongondro went on； 〃that all the land and all the
water； the trees； the fish； and bush and mountains； the sun； the moon； and the
stars； were made in six days！ No； no。 I tell you that in my youth I was an
able man； yet did it require me three months for one small canoe。 It is a
story to frighten children with； but no man can believe it。〃
〃I am a man；〃 the missionary said。
〃True； you are a man。 But it is not given to my dark understanding to know
what you believe。〃
〃I tell you； I do believe that everything was made in six days。〃
〃So you say； so you say；〃 the old cannibal murmured soothingly。
It was not until after John Starhurst and Narau had gone off to bed that
Erirola crept into the chief's house； and； after diplomatic speech； handed the
whale tooth to Mongondro。
The old chief held the tooth in his hands for a long time。 It was a beautiful
tooth； and he yearned for it。 Also； he divined the request that must accompany
it。 〃No； no； whale teeth were beautiful；〃 and his mouth watered for it； but he
passed it back to Erirola with many apologies。
。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
In the early dawn John Starhurst was afoot； striding along the bush trail in
his big leather boots； at his heels the faithful Narau； himself at the heels
of a naked guide lent him by Mongondro to show the way to the next village；
which was reached by midday。 Here a new guide showed the way。 A mile in the
rear plodded Erirola； the whale tooth in the basket slung on his shoulder。 For
two days more he brought up the missionary's rear； offering the tooth to the
village chiefs。 But village after village refused the tooth。 It followed so
quickly the missionary's advent that they divined the request that would be
made； and would have none of it。
They were getting deep into the mountains； and Erirola took a secret trail；
cut in ahead of the missionary； and reached the stronghold of the Buli of
Gatoka。 Now the Buli was unaware of John Starhurst's imminent arrival。 Also；
the tooth was beautifulan extraordinary specimen； while the coloring of it
was of the rarest order。 The tooth was presented publicly。 The Buli of Gatoka；
seated on his best mat； surrounded by his chief men； three busy fly…brushers
at his back； deigned to receive from the hand of his herald the whale tooth
presented by Ra Vatu and carried into the mountains by his cousin； Erirola。 A
clapping of hands went up at the acceptance of the present； the assembled
headman； heralds； and fly…brushers crying aloud in chorus：
〃A！ woi！ woi！ woi！ A！ woi！ woi！ woi！ A tabua levu！ woi！ woi！ A mudua； mudua；
mudua！'
〃Soon will come a man； a white man；〃 Erirola began； after the proper pause。
〃He is a missionary man； and he will come today。 Ra Vatu is pleased to desire
his boots。 He wishes to present them to his good friend； Mongondro； and it is
in his mind to send them with the feet along in them； for Mongondro is an old
man and his teeth are not good。 Be sure； O Buli； that the feet go along in the
boots。 As for the rest of him； it may stop here。〃
The delight in the whale tooth faded out of the Buli's eyes； and he glanced
about him dubiously。 Yet had he already accepted the tooth。
〃A little thing like a missionary does not matter；〃 Erirola prompted。
〃No； a little thing like a missionary does not matter；〃 the Buli answered；
himself again。 〃Mongondro shall have the boots。 Go； you young men； some three
or four of you； and meet the missionary on the trail。 Be sure you bring back
the boots as well。〃
〃It is too late；〃 said Erirola。 〃Listen！ He comes now。〃
Breaking through the thicket of brush； John Starhurst； with Narau close on his
heels； strode upon the scene。 The famous boots； having filled in wading the
stream； squirted fine jets of water at every step。 Starhurst looked about him
with flashing eyes。 Upborne by an unwavering trust； untouched by doubt or
fear； he exulted in all he saw。 He knew that since the beginning of time he
was the first white man ever to tread the mountain stronghold of Gatoka。
The grass houses clung to the steep mountain side or overhung the rushing
Rewa。 On either side towered a mighty precipice。 At the best； three hours of
sunlight penetrated that narrow gorge。 No cocoanuts nor bananas were to be
seen； though dense； tropic vegetation overran everything； dripping in airy
festoons from the sheer lips of the precipices and running riot in all the
crannied ledges。 At the far end of the gorge the Rewa leaped eight hundred
feet in a single span； while the atmosphere of the rock fortress pulsed to the
rhythmic thunder of the fall。
From the Buli's house； John Starhurst saw emerging the Buli and his followers。
〃I bring you good tidings；〃 was the missionary's greeting。
〃Who has sent you？〃 the Buli rejoined quietly。
〃God。〃
〃It is a new name in Viti Levu；〃 the Buli grinned。 〃Of what islands； villages；
or passes may he be chief？〃