VII. The Feathers of the Sun

by Jack London

　　IIt was the island of Fitu-Iva--the last independent Polynesianstronghold in the South Seas. Three factors conduced to Fitu-Iva'sindependence. The first and second were its isolation and thewarlikeness of its population. But these would not have saved it inthe end had it not been for the fact that Japan, France, GreatBritain, Germany, and the United States discovered its desirablenesssimultaneously. It was like gamins scrambling for a penny. They gotin one another's way. The war vessels of the five Powers clutteredFitu-Iva's one small harbour. There were rumours of war and threats ofwar. Over its morning toast all the world read columns about Fitu-Iva.As a Yankee blue jacket epitomized it at the time, they all got theirfeet in the trough at once.So it was that Fitu-Iva escaped even a joint protectorate, and KingTulifau, otherwise Tui Tulifau, continued to dispense the high justiceand the low in the frame-house palace built for him by a Sydney traderout of California redwood. Not only was Tui Tulifau every inch a king,but he was every second a king. When he had ruled fifty-eight years andfive months, he was only fifty-eight years and three months old. Thatis to say, he had ruled over five million seconds more than he hadbreathed, having been crowned two months before he was born.He was a kingly king, a royal figure of a man, standing six feet anda half, and, without being excessively fat, weighing three hundred andtwenty pounds. But this was not unusual for Polynesian "chief stock."Sepeli, his queen, was six feet three inches and weighed two hundredand sixty, while her brother, Uiliami, who commanded the army in theintervals of resignation from the premiership, topped her by an inch andnotched her an even half-hundredweight. Tui Tulifau was a merry soul, agreat feaster and drinker. So were all his people merry souls, save inanger, when, on occasion, they could be guilty even of throwing deadpigs at those who made them wroth. Nevertheless, on occasion, they couldfight like Maoris, as piratical sandalwood traders and Blackbirders inthe old days learned to their cost.IIGrief's schooner, the _Cantani_, had passed the Pillar Rocks at theentrance two hours before and crept up the harbour to the whisperingflutters of a breeze that could not make up its mind to blow. It wasa cool, starlight evening, and they lolled about the poop waiting tilltheir snail's pace would bring them to the anchorage. Willie Smee, thesupercargo, emerged from the cabin, conspicuous in his shore clothes.The mate glanced at his shirt, of the finest and whitest silk, andgiggled significantly."Dance, to-night, I suppose?" Grief observed."No," said the mate. "It's Taitua. Willie's stuck on her.""Catch me," the supercargo disclaimed."Then she's stuck on you, and it's all the same," the mate went on. "Youwon't be ashore half an hour before you'll have a flower behind yourear, a wreath on your head, and your arm around Taitua.""Simple jealousy," Willie Smee sniffed. "You'd like to have heryourself, only you can't.""I can't find shirts like that, that's why. I'll bet you half a crownyou won't sail from Fitu-Iva with that shirt.""And if Taitua doesn't get it, it's an even break Tui Tulifau does,"Grief warned. "Better not let him spot that shirt, or it's all day withit.""That's right," Captain Boig agreed, turning his head from watching thehouse lights on the shore. "Last voyage he fined one of my Kanakas outof a fancy belt and sheath-knife." He turned to the mate. "You can letgo any time, Mr. Marsh. Don't give too much slack. There's no sign ofwind, and in the morning we may shift opposite the copra-sheds."A minute later the anchor rumbled down. The whaleboat, already hoistedout, lay alongside, and the shore-going party dropped into it. Save forthe Kanakas, who were all bent for shore, only Grief and the supercargowere in the boat. At the head of the little coral-stone pier WillieSmee, with an apologetic gurgle, separated from his employer anddisappeared down an avenue of palms. Grief turned in the oppositedirection past the front of the old mission church. Here, amongthe graves on the beach, lightly clad in _ahu's_ and _lava-lavas_,flower-crowned and garlanded, with great phosphorescent hibiscusblossoms in their hair, youths and maidens were dancing. Farther on,Grief passed the long, grass-built _himine_ house, where a few scoreof the elders sat in long rows chanting the old hymns taught them byforgotten missionaries. He passed also the palace of Tui Tulifau, where,by the lights and sounds, he knew the customary revelry was goingon. For of the happy South Sea isles, Fitu-Iva was the happiest. Theyfeasted and frolicked at births and deaths, and the dead and the unbornwere likewise feasted.Grief held steadily along the Broom Road, which curved and twistedthrough a lush growth of flowers and fern-like algarobas. The warm airwas rich with perfume, and overhead, outlined against the stars, werefruit-burdened mangoes, stately avocado trees, and slender-tufted palms.Every here and there were grass houses. Voices and laughter rippledthrough the darkness. Out on the water flickering lights and soft-voicedchoruses marked the fishers returning from the reef.At last Grief stepped aside from the road, stumbling over a pig thatgrunted indignantly. Looking through an open door, he saw a stout andelderly native sitting on a heap of mats a dozen deep. From time totime, automatically, he brushed his naked legs with a cocoa-nut-fibrefly-flicker. He wore glasses, and was reading methodically in what Griefknew to be an English Bible. For this was Ieremia, his trader, so namedfrom the prophet Jeremiah.Ieremia was lighter-skinned than the Fitu-Ivans, as was natural in afull-blooded Samoan. Educated by the missionaries, as lay teacher he hadserved their cause well over in the cannibal atolls to the westward. Asa reward, he had been sent to the paradise of Fitu-Iva, where all wereor had been good converts, to gather in the backsliders. Unfortunately,Ieremia had become too well educated. A stray volume of Darwin, anagging wife, and a pretty Fitu-Ivan widow had driven him into the ranksof the backsliders. It was not a case of apostasy. The effect of Darwinhad been one of intellectual fatigue. What was the use of trying tounderstand this vastly complicated and enigmatical world, especiallywhen one was married to a nagging woman? As Ieremia slackened in hislabours, the mission board threatened louder and louder to send him backto the atolls, while his wife's tongue grew correspondingly sharper. TuiTulifau was a sympathetic monarch, whose queen, on occasions when he wasparticularly drunk, was known to beat him. For political reasons--thequeen belonging to as royal stock as himself and her brother commandingthe army--Tui Tulifau could not divorce her, but he could and diddivorce Ieremia, who promptly took up with commercial life and the ladyof his choice. As an independent trader he had failed, chiefly becauseof the disastrous patronage of Tui Tulifau. To refuse credit to thatmerry monarch was to invite confiscation; to grant him credit wascertain bankruptcy. After a year's idleness on the beach, leremia hadbecome David Grief's trader, and for a dozen years his service hadbeen honourable and efficient, for Grief had proven the first man whosuccessfully refused credit to the king or who collected when it hadbeen accorded.Ieremia looked gravely over the rims of his glasses when his employerentered, gravely marked the place in the Bible and set it aside, andgravely shook hands."I am glad you came in person," he said."How else could I come?" Grief laughed.But Ieremia had no sense of humour, and he ignored the remark."The commercial situation on the island is damn bad," he said with greatsolemnity and an unctuous mouthing of the many-syllabled words. "Myledger account is shocking.""Trade bad?""On the contrary. It has been excellent. The shelves are empty,exceedingly empty. But----" His eyes glistened proudly. "But there aremany goods remaining in the storehouse; I have kept it carefullylocked.""Been allowing Tui Tulifau too much credit?""On the contrary. There has been no credit at all. And every old accounthas been settled up.""I don't follow you, Ieremia," Grief confessed. "What's thejoke?--shelves empty, no credit, old accounts all square, storehousecarefully locked--what's the answer?"Ieremia did not reply immediately. Reaching under the rear corner of themats, he drew forth a large cash-box. Grief noted and wondered thatit was not locked. The Samoan had always been fastidiously cautious inguarding cash. The box seemed filled with paper money. He skinned offthe top note and passed it over."There is the answer."Grief glanced at a fairly well executed banknote. "_The First Royal Bankof Fitu-Iva will pay to bearer on demand one pound sterling_," he read.In the centre was the smudged likeness of a native face. At the bottomwas the signature of Tui Tulifau, and the signature of Fulualea, withthe printed information appended, "_Chancellor of the Exchequer._""Who the deuce is Fulualea?" Grief demanded. "It's Fijian, isn'tit?--meaning the feathers of the sun?""Just so. It means the feathers of the sun. Thus does this baseinterloper caption himself. He has come up from Fiji to turn Fitu-Ivaupside down--that is, commercially.""Some one of those smart Levuka boys, I suppose?"Ieremia shook his head sadly. "No, this low fellow is a white man anda scoundrel. He has taken a noble and high-sounding Fijian name anddragged it in the dirt to suit his nefarious purposes. He has made TuiTulifau drunk. He has made him very drunk. He has kept him very drunkall the time. In return, he has been made Chancellor of the Exchequerand other things. He has issued this false paper and compelled thepeople to receive it. He has levied a store tax, a copra tax, and atobacco tax. There are harbour dues and regulations, and other taxes.But the people are not taxed--only the traders. When the copra tax waslevied, I lowered the purchasing price accordingly. Then the peoplebegan to grumble, and Feathers of the Sun passed a new law, settingthe old price back and forbidding any man to lower it. Me he fined twopounds and five pigs, it being well known that I possessed five pigs.You will find them entered in the ledger. Hawkins, who is trader forthe Fulcrum Company, was fined first pigs, then gin, and, because hecontinued to make loud conversation, the army came and burned his store.When I declined to sell, this Feathers of the Sun fined me once more andpromised to burn the store if again I offended. So I sold all that wason the shelves, and there is the box full of worthless paper. I shallbe chagrined if you pay me my salary in paper, but it would be just, nomore than just. Now, what is to be done?"Grief shrugged his shoulders. "I must first see this Feathers of the Sunand size up the situation.""Then you must see him soon," Ieremia advised. "Else he will have anaccumulation of many fines against you. Thus does he absorb all thecoin of the realm. He has it all now, save what has been buried in theground."IIIOn his way back along the Broom Road, under the lighted lamps thatmarked the entrance to the palace grounds, Grief encountered a short,rotund gentleman, in unstarched ducks, smooth-shaven and of floridcomplexion, who was just emerging. Something about his tentative,saturated gait was familiar. Grief knew it on the instant. On thebeaches of a dozen South Sea ports had he seen it before."Of all men, Cornelius Deasy!" he cried."If it ain't Grief himself, the old devil," was the return greeting, asthey shook hands."If you'll come on board I've some choice smoky Irish," Grief invited.Cornelius threw back his shoulders and stiffened."Nothing doin', Mr. Grief. 'Tis Fulualea I am now. No blarneyin' ofold times for me. Also, and by the leave of his gracious Majesty KingTulifau, 'tis Chancellor of the Exchequer I am, an' Chief Justice I am,save in moments of royal sport when the king himself chooses to toy withthe wheels of justice."Grief whistled his amazement. "So you're Feathers of the Sun!""I prefer the native idiom," was the correction. "Fulualea, an' itplease you. Not forgettin' old times, Mr. Grief, it sorrows the heartof me to break you the news. You'll have to pay your legitimate importduties same as any other trader with mind intent on robbin' the gentlePolynesian savage on coral isles implanted. ----Where was I? Ah! Iremember. You've violated the regulations. With malice intent have youentered the port of Fitu-Iva after sunset without sidelights burnin'.Don't interrupt. With my own eyes did I see you. For which offence areyou fined the sum of five pounds. Have you any gin? 'Tis a seriousoffence. Not lightly are the lives of the mariners of our commodiousport to be risked for the savin' of a penny'orth of oil. Did I ask: haveyou any gin? Tis the harbour master that asks.""You've taken a lot on your shoulders," Grief grinned."'Tis the white man's burden. These rapscallion traders have beenputtin' it all over poor Tui Tulif, the best-hearted old monarchthat ever sat a South Sea throne an' mopped grog-root from the imperialcalabash. 'Tis I, Cornelius--Fulualea, rather--that am here to seejustice done. Much as I dislike the doin' of it, as harbour master 'tismy duty to find you guilty of breach of quarantine.""Quarantine?""'Tis the rulin' of the port doctor. No intercourse with the shore tillthe ship is passed. What dire calamity to the confidin' native ifchicken pox or whoopin' cough was aboard of you! Who is there to protectthe gentle, confidin' Polynesian? I, Fulualea, the Feathers of the Sun,on my high mission.""Who in hell is the port doctor?" Grief queried."'Tis me, Fulualea. Your offence is serious. Consider yourself finedfive cases of first-quality Holland gin."Grief laughed heartily. "We'll compromise, Cornelius. Come aboard andhave a drink."The Feathers of the Sun waved the proffer aside grandly. "'Tis bribery.I'll have none of it--me faithful to my salt. And wherefore did you notpresent your ship's papers? As chief of the custom house you are finedfive pounds and two more cases of gin.""Look here, Cornelius. A joke's a joke, but this one has gone farenough. This is not Levuka. I've half a mind to pull your nose for you.You can't buck me."The Feathers of the Sun retreated unsteadily and in alarm."Lay no violence on me," he threatened. "You're right. This is notLevuka. And by the same token, with Tui Tulifau and the royal armybehind me, buck you is just the thing I can and will. You'll pay themfines promptly, or I'll confiscate your vessel. You're not the first.What does that Chink pearl-buyer, Peter Gee, do but slip into harbour,violatin' all regulations an' makin' rough house for the matter of afew paltry fines. No; he wouldn't pay 'em, and he's on the beach nowthinkin' it over.""You don't mean to say----""Sure an' I do. In the high exercise of office I seized his schooner. Afifth of the loyal army is now in charge on board of her. She'll be soldthis day week. Some ten tons of shell in the hold, and I'm wonderin'if I can trade it to you for gin. I can promise you a rare bargain. Howmuch gin did you say you had?""Still more gin, eh?""An' why not? 'Tis a royal souse is Tui Tulifau. Sure it keeps my witsworkin' overtime to supply him, he's that amazin' liberal with it. Thewhole gang of hanger-on chiefs is perpetually loaded to the guards. It'sdisgraceful. Are you goin' to pay them fines, Mr. Grief, or is it toharsher measures I'll be forced?"Grief turned impatiently on his heel."Cornelius, you're drunk. Think it over and come to your senses. Theold rollicking South Sea days are gone. You can't play tricks like thatnow.""If you think you're goin' on board, Mr. Grief, I'll save you thetrouble. I know your kind, I foresaw your stiff-necked stubbornness. An'it's forestalled you are. 'Tis on the beach you'll find your crew. Thevessel's seized."Grief turned back on him in the half-belief still that he was joking.Fulualea again retreated in alarm. The form of a large man loomed besidehim in the darkness."Is it you, Uiliami?" Fulualea crooned. "Here is another sea pirate.Stand by me with the strength of thy arm, O Herculean brother.""Greeting, Uiliami," Grief said. "Since when has Fitu-Iva come to berun by a Levuka beachcomber? He says my schooner has been seized. Is ittrue?""It is true," Uiliami boomed from his deep chest. "Have you any moresilk shirts like Willie Smee's? Tui Tulifau would like such a shirt. Hehas heard of it.""'Tis all the same," Fulualea interrupted. "Shirts or schooners, theking shall have them.""Rather high-handed, Cornelius," Grief murmured. "It's rank piracy. Youseized my vessel without giving me a chance.""A chance is it? As we stood here, not five minutes gone, didn't yourefuse to pay your fines?""But she was already seized.""Sure, an' why not? Didn't I know you'd refuse? 'Tis all fair, an' noinjustice done--Justice, the bright, particular star at whose shiningaltar Cornelius Deasy--or Fulualea, 'tis the same thing--ever worships.Get thee gone, Mr. Trader, or I'll set the palace guards on you.Uiliami, 'tis a desperate character, this trader man. Call the guards."Uiliami blew the whistle suspended on his broad bare chest by a cordof cocoanut sennit. Grief reached out an angry hand for Cornelius, whotitubated into safety behind Uiliami's massive bulk. A dozen strappingPolynesians, not one under six feet, ran down the palace walk and rangedbehind their commander."Get thee gone, Mr. Trader," Cornelius ordered. "The interview isterminated. We'll try your several cases in the mornin'. Appear promptlyat the palace at ten o'clock to answer to the followin' charges, towit: breach of the peace; seditious and treasonable utterance; violentassault on the chief magistrate with intent to cut, wound, maim, an'bruise; breach of quarantine; violation of harbour regulations; andgross breakage of custom house rules. In the mornin', fellow, in themornin', justice shall be done while the breadfruit falls. And the Lordhave mercy on your soul."IIIBefore the hour set for the trial Grief, accompanied by Peter Gee, wonaccess to Tui Tulifau. The king, surrounded by half a dozen chiefs, layon mats under the shade of the avocados in the palace compound. Earlyas was the hour, palace maids were industriously serving squarefaces ofgin. The king was glad to see his old friend Davida, and regretfulthat he had run foul of the new regulations. Beyond that he steadfastlyavoided discussion of the matter in hand. All protests of theexpropriated traders were washed away in proffers of gin. "Have adrink," was his invariable reply, though once he unbosomed himselfenough to say that Feathers of the Sun was a wonderful man. Never hadpalace affairs been so prosperous. Never had there been so much moneyin the treasury, nor so much gin in circulation. "Well pleased am I withFulualea," he concluded. "Have a drink.""We've got to get out of this _pronto_," Grief whispered to Peter Gee afew minutes later, "or we'll be a pair of boiled owls. Also, I am to betried for arson, or heresy, or leprosy, or something, in a few minutes,and I must control my wits."As they withdrew from the royal presence, Grief caught a glimpse ofSepeli, the queen. She was peering out at her royal spouse and hisfellow tipplers, and the frown on her face gave Grief his cue. Whateverwas to be accomplished must be through her.In another shady corner of the big compound Cornelius was holding court.He had been at it early, for when Grief arrived the case of Willie Smeewas being settled. The entire royal army, save that portion in charge ofthe seized vessels, was in attendance."Let the defendant stand up," said Cornelius, "and receive the just andmerciful sentence of the Court for licentious and disgraceful conductunbecomin' a supercargo. The defendant says he has no money. Very well.The Court regrets it has no calaboose. In lieu thereof, and in viewof the impoverished condition of the defendant, the Court fines saiddefendant one white silk shirt of the same kind, make and quality atpresent worn by defendant."Cornelius nodded to several of the soldiers, who led the supercargo awaybehind an avocado tree. A minute later he emerged, minus the garment inquestion, and sat down beside Grief."What have you been up to?" Grief asked."Blessed if I know. What crimes have you committed?""Next case," said Cornelius in his most extra-legal tones. "David Grief,defendant, stand up. The Court has considered the evidence in the case,or cases, and renders the following judgment, to wit:--Shut up!" hethundered at Grief, who had attempted to interrupt. "I tell you theevidence has been considered, deeply considered. It is no wish of theCourt to lay additional hardship on the defendant, and the Court takesthis opportunity to warn the defendant that he is liable for contempt.For open and wanton violation of harbour rules and regulations, breachof quarantine, and disregard of shipping laws, his schooner, the_Cantani_, is hereby declared confiscated to the Government ofFitu-Iva, to be sold at public auction, ten days from date, withall appurtenances, fittings, and cargo thereunto pertaining. For thepersonal crimes of the defendant, consisting of violent and turbulentconduct and notorious disregard of the laws of the realm, he is fined inthe sum of one hundred pounds sterling and fifteen cases of gin. I willnot ask you if you have anything to say. But will you pay? That is thequestion."Grief shook his head."In the meantime," Cornelius went on, "consider yourself a prisoner atlarge. There is no calaboose in which to confine you. And finally, ithas come to the knowledge of the Court, that at an early hour of thismorning, the defendant did wilfully and deliberately send Kanakas in hisemploy out on the reef to catch fish for breakfast. This is distinctlyan infringement of the rights of the fisherfolk of Fitu-Iva. Homeindustries must be protected. This conduct of the defendant is severelyreprehended by the Court, and on any repetition of the offence theoffender and offenders, all and sundry, shall be immediately put to hardlabour on the improvement of the Broom Road. The court is dismissed."As they left the compound, Peter Gee nudged Grief to look where TuiTulifau reclined on the mats. The supercargo's shirt, stretched andbulged, already encased the royal fat.IV"The thing is clear," said Peter Gee, at a conference in Ieremia'shouse. "Deasy has about gathered in all the coin. In the meantime hekeeps the king going on the gin he's captured, on our vessels. As soonas he can maneuver it he'll take the cash and skin out on your craft ormine.""He is a low fellow," Ieremia declared, pausing in the polishing of hisspectacles. "He is a scoundrel and a blackguard. He should be struck bya dead pig, by a particularly dead pig.""The very thing," said Grief. "He shall be struck by a dead pig.Ieremia, I should not be surprised if you were the man to strike himwith the dead pig. Be sure and select a particularly dead one. TuiTulifau is down at the boat house broaching a case of my Scotch. I'mgoing up to the palace to work kitchen politics with the queen. In themeantime you get a few things on your shelves from the store-room. I'lllend you some, Hawkins. And you, Peter, see the German store. Start inall of you, selling for paper. Remember, I'll back the losses. IfI'm not mistaken, in three days we'll have a national council or arevolution. You, Ieremia, start messengers around the island to thefishers and farmers, everywhere, even to the mountain goat-hunters. Tellthem to assemble at the palace three days from now.""But the soldiers," Ieremia objected."I'll take care of them. They haven't been paid for two months. Besides,Uiliami is the queen's brother. Don't have too much on your shelves at atime. As soon as the soldiers show up with paper, stop selling.""Then will they burn the stores," said Ieremia."Let them. King Tulifau will pay for it if they do.""Will he pay for my shirt?" Willie Smee demanded."That is purely a personal and private matter between you and TuiTulifau," Grief answered."It's beginning to split up the back," the supercargo lamented. "Inoticed that much this morning when he hadn't had it on ten minutes. Itcost me thirty shillings and I only wore it once.""Where shall I get a dead pig?" Ieremia asked."Kill one, of course," said Grief. "Kill a small one.""A small one is worth ten shillings.""Then enter it in your ledger under operating expenses." Grief paused amoment. "If you want it particularly dead, it would be well to kill itat once."V"You have spoken well, Davida," said Queen Sepeli. "This Fulualea hasbrought a madness with him, and Tui Tulifau is drowned in gin. If hedoes not grant the big council, I shall give him a beating. He is easyto beat when he is in drink."She doubled up her fist, and such were her Amazonian proportions and thedetermination in her face that Grief knew the council would be called.So akin was the Fitu-Ivan tongue to the Samoan that he spoke it like anative."And you, Uiliami," he said, "have pointed out that the soldiers havedemanded coin and refused the paper Fulualea has offered them. Tell themto take the paper and see that they be paid to-morrow.""Why trouble?" Uiliami objected. "The king remains happily drunk. Thereis much money in the treasury. And I am content. In my house are twocases of gin and much goods from Hawkins's store.""Excellent pig, O my brother!" Sepeli erupted. "Has not Davida spoken?Have you no ears? When the gin and the goods in your house are gone, andno more traders come with gin and goods, and Feathers of the Sun has runaway to Levuka with all the cash money of Fitu-Iva, what then will youdo? Cash money is silver and gold, but paper is only paper. I tell youthe people are grumbling. There is no fish in the palace. Yams andsweet potatoes seem to have fled from the soil, for they come not. Themountain dwellers have sent no wild goat in a week. Though Feathers ofthe Sun compels the traders to buy copra at the old price, the peoplesell not, for they will have none of the paper money. Only to-day have Isent messengers to twenty houses. There are no eggs. Has Feathers of theSun put a blight upon the hens? I do not know. All I know is that thereare no eggs. Well it is that those who drink much eat little, else wouldthere be a palace famine. Tell your soldiers to receive their pay. Letit be in his paper money.""And remember," Grief warned, "though there be selling in the stores,when the soldiers come with their paper it will be refused. And in threedays will be the council, and Feathers of the Sun will be as dead as adead pig."VIThe day of the council found the population of the island crowded intothe capital. By canoe and whaleboat, on foot and donkey-back, the fivethousand inhabitants of Fitu-Iva had trooped in. The three interveningdays had had their share of excitement. At first there had been muchselling from the sparse shelves of the traders. But when the soldiersappeared, their patronage was declined and they were told to go toFulualea for coin. "Says it not so on the face of the paper," thetraders demanded, "that for the asking the coin will be given inexchange?"Only the strong authority of Uiliami had prevented the burning of thetraders' houses. As it was, one of Grief's copra-sheds went up in smokeand was duly charged by Ieremia to the king's account. Ieremia himselfhad been abused and mocked, and his spectacles broken. The skin wasoff Willie Smee's knuckles. This had been caused by three boisteroussoldiers who violently struck their jaws thereon in quick succession.Captain Boig was similarly injured. Peter Gee had come off undamaged,because it chanced that it was bread-baskets and not jaws that struckhim on the fists.Tui Tulifau, with Sepeli at his side and surrounded by his convivialchiefs, sat at the head of the council in the big compound. Hisright eye and jaw were swollen as if he too had engaged in assaultingsomebody's fist. It was palace gossip that morning that Sepeli hadadministered a conjugal beating. At any rate, her spouse was sober,and his fat bulged spiritlessly through the rips in Willie Smee's silkshirt. His thirst was prodigious, and he was continually served withyoung drinking nuts. Outside the compound, held back by the army, wasthe mass of the common people. Only the lesser chiefs, village maids,village beaux, and talking men with their staffs of office werepermitted inside. Cornelius Deasy, as befitted a high and favouredofficial, sat near to the right hand of the king. On the left of thequeen, opposite Cornelius and surrounded by the white traders he wasto represent, sat Ieremia. Bereft of his spectacles, he peeredshort-sightedly across at the Chancellor of the Exchequer.In turn, the talking man of the windward coast, the talking man of theleeward coast, and the talking man of the mountain villages, each backedby his group of lesser talking men and chiefs, arose and made oration.What they said was much the same. They grumbled about the paper money.Affairs were not prosperous. No more copra was being smoked. The peoplewere suspicious. To such a pass had things come that all people wantedto pay their debts and no one wanted to be paid. Creditors made apractice of running away from debtors. The money was cheap. Prices weregoing up and commodities were getting scarce. It cost three times theordinary price to buy a fowl, and then it was tough and like to dieof old age if not immediately sold. The outlook was gloomy. There weresigns and omens. There was a plague of rats in some districts. The cropswere bad. The custard apples were small. The best-bearing avocado on thewindward coast had mysteriously shed all its leaves. The taste hadgone from the mangoes. The plantains were eaten by a worm. The fish hadforsaken the ocean and vast numbers of tiger-sharks appeared. The wildgoats had fled to inaccessible summits. The poi in the poi-pits hadturned bitter. There were rumblings in the mountains, night-walkingof spirits; a woman of Punta-Puna had been struck speechless, and afive-legged she-goat had been born in the village of Eiho. And that allwas due to the strange money of Fulualea was the firm conviction of theelders in the village councils assembled.Uiliami spoke for the army. His men were discontented and mutinous.Though by royal decree the traders were bidden accept the money, yet didthey refuse it. He would not say, but it looked as if the strange moneyof Fulualea had something to do with it.Ieremia, as talking man of the traders, next spoke. When he arose, itwas noticeable that he stood with legs spraddled over a large grassbasket. He dwelt upon the cloth of the traders, its variety and beautyand durability, which so exceeded the Fitu-Ivan wet-pounded tapa,fragile and coarse. No one wore tapa any more. Yet all had worntapa, and nothing but tapa, before the traders came. There was themosquito-netting, sold for a song, that the cleverest Fitu-Ivannet-weaver could not duplicate in a thousand years. He enlarged on theincomparable virtues of rifles, axes, and steel fishhooks, down throughneedles, thread and cotton fish-lines to white flour and kerosene oil.He expounded at length, with firstlies and secondlies and all minorsubdivisions of argument, on organization, and order, and civilization.He contended that the trader was the bearer of civilization, and thatthe trader must be protected in his trade else he would not come. Overto the westward were islands which would not protect the traders. Whatwas the result? The traders would not come, and the people were likewild animals. They wore no clothes, no silk shirts (here he peered andblinked significantly at the king), and they ate one another.The queer paper of the Feathers of the Sun was not money. The tradersknew what money was, and they would not receive it. If Fitu-Ivapersisted in trying to make them receive it they would go away and nevercome back. And then the Fitu-Ivans, who had forgotten how to make tapa,would run around naked and eat one another.Much more he said, talking a solid hour, and always coming back to whattheir dire condition would be when the traders came no more. "And inthat day," he perorated, "how will the Fitu-Ivan be known in the greatworld? _Kai-kanak_* will men call him. '_Kiakanak! Kai-kanak!_"* Man-eater.Tui Tulifau spoke briefly. The case had been presented, he said, for thepeople, the army, and the traders. It was now time for Feathers of theSun to present his side. It could not be denied that he had wroughtwonders with his financial system. "Many times has he explained to methe working of his system," Tui Tulif au concluded. "It is very simple.And now he will explain it to you."It was a conspiracy of the white traders, Cornelius contended. Ieremiawas right so far as concerned the manifold blessings of white flourand kerosene oil. Fitu-Iva did not want to become _kai-kanak_. Fitu-Ivawanted civilization; it wanted more and more civilization. Now that wasthe very point, and they must follow him closely. Paper money was anearmark of higher civilization. That was why he, the Feathers of theSun, had introduced it. And that was why the traders opposed it. Theydid not want to see Fitu-Iva civilized. Why did they come across the farocean stretches with their goods to Fitu-Iva? He, the Feathers of theSun, would tell them why, to their faces, in grand council assembled. Intheir own countries men were too civilized to let the traders make theimmense profits that they made out of the Fitu-Ivans. If the Fitu-Ivansbecame properly civilized, the trade of the traders would be gone. Inthat day every Fitu-Ivan could become a trader if he pleased.That was why the white traders fought the system of paper money, thathe, the Feathers of the Sun, had brought. Why was he called the Feathersof the Sun? Because he was the Light-Bringer from the World Beyond theSky. The paper money was the light. The robbing white traders could notflourish in the light. Therefore they fought the light.He would prove it to the good people of Fitu-Iva, and he would proveit out of the mouths of his enemies. It was a well-known fact that allhighly civilized countries had paper-money systems. He would ask Ieremiaif this was not so.Ieremia did not answer."You see," Cornelius went on, "he makes no answer. He cannot deny whatis true. England, France, Germany, America, all the great _Papalangi_countries, have the paper-money system. It works. From century tocentury it works. I challenge you, Ieremia, as an honest man, as onewho was once a zealous worker in the Lord's vineyard, I challenge you todeny that in the great _Papalangi_ countries the system works."Ieremia could not deny, and his fingers played nervously with thefastening of the basket on his knees."You see, it is as I have said," Cornelius continued. "Ieremia agreesthat it is so. Therefore, I ask you, all good people of Fitu-Iva, ifa system is good for the _Papalangi_ countries, why is it not good forFitu-Iva?""It is not the same!" Ieremia cried. "The paper of the Feathers of theSun is different from the paper of the great countries."That Cornelius had been prepared for this was evident. He held up aFitu-Ivan note that was recognized by all."What is that?" he demanded."Paper, mere paper," was Ieremia's reply."And that?"This time Cornelius held up a Bank of England note."It is the paper money of the English," he explained to the Council,at the same time extending it for Ieremia to examine. "Is it not true,Ieremia, that it is paper money of the English?"Ieremia nodded reluctantly."You have said that the paper money of Fitu-Iva was paper, now how aboutthis of the English? What is it?.... You must answer like a true man...All wait for your answer, Ieremia.""It is--it is----" the puzzled Ieremia began, then splutteredhelplessly, the fallacy beyond his penetration."Paper, mere paper," Cornelius concluded for him, imitating his haltingutterance.Conviction sat on the faces of all. The king clapped his handsadmiringly and murmured, "It is most clear, very clear.""You see, he himself acknowledges it." Assured triumph was in Deasy'svoice and bearing. "He knows of no difference. There is no difference.'Tis the very image of money. 'Tis money itself."In the meantime Grief was whispering in Ieremia's ear, who nodded andbegan to speak."But it is well known to all the _Papalangi_ that the English Governmentwill pay coin money for the paper."Deasy's victory was now absolute. He held aloft a Fitu-Ivan note."Is it not so written on this paper as well?"Again Grief whispered."That Fitu-Iva will pay coin money?" asked Ieremia"It is so written."A third time Grief prompted."On demand?" asked Ieremia."On demand," Cornelius assured him."Then I demand coin money now," said Ieremia, drawing a small package ofnotes from the pouch at his girdle.Cornelius scanned the package with a quick, estimating eye."Very well," he agreed. "I shall give you the coin money now. How much?""And we will see the system work," the king proclaimed, partaking in hisChancellor's triumph."You have heard!--He will give coin money now!" Ieremia cried in a loudvoice to the assemblage.At the same time he plunged both hands in the basket and drew forth manypackages of Fitu-Ivan notes. It was noticed that a peculiar odour wasadrift about the council."I have here," Ieremia announced, "one thousand and twenty-eight poundstwelve shillings and sixpence. Here is a sack to put the coin money in."Cornelius recoiled. He had not expected such a sum, and everywhere aboutthe council his uneasy eyes showed him chiefs and talking men drawingout bundles of notes. The army, its two months' pay in its hands,pressed forward to the edge of the council, while behind it thepopulace, with more money, invaded the compound."'Tis a run on the bank you've precipitated," he said reproachfully toGrief."Here is the sack to put the coin money in," Ieremia urged."It must be postponed," Cornelius said desperately, "'Tis not in bankinghours."Ieremia flourished a package of money. "Nothing of banking hours iswritten here. It says on demand, and I now demand.""Let them come to-morrow, O Tui Tulifau," Cornelius appealed to theking. "They shall be paid to-morrow."Tui Tulifau hesitated, but his spouse glared at him, her brawny armtensing as the fist doubled into a redoubtable knot, Tui Tulifau triedto look away, but failed. He cleared his throat nervously."We will see the system work," he decreed. "The people have come far.""'Tis good money you're asking me to pay out," Deasy muttered in a lowvoice to the king.Sepeli caught what he said, and grunted so savagely as to startle theking, who involuntarily shrank away from her."Forget not the pig," Grief whispered to Ieremia, who immediately stoodup.With a sweeping gesture he stilled the babel of voices that wasbeginning to rise."It was an ancient and honourable custom of Fitu-Iva," he said, "thatwhen a man was proved a notorious evildoer his joints were broken witha club and he was staked out at low water to be fed upon alive by thesharks. Unfortunately, that day is past. Nevertheless another ancientand honourable custom remains with us. You all know what it is. When aman is a proven thief and liar he shall be struck with a dead pig."His right hand went into the basket, and, despite the lack of hisspectacles, the dead pig that came into view landed accurately onDeasy's neck. With such force was it thrown that the Chancellor, inhis sitting position, toppled over sidewise. Before he could recover,Sepeli, with an agility unexpected of a woman who weighed two hundredand sixty pounds, had sprung across to him. One hand clutched his shirtcollar, the other hand brandished the pig, and amid the vast uproar of adelighted kingdom she royally swatted him.There remained nothing for Tui Tulifau but to put a good face on hisfavourite's disgrace, and his mountainous fat lay back on the mats andshook in a gale of Gargantuan laughter.When Sepeli dropped both pig and Chancellor, a talking man from thewindward coast picked up the carcass. Cornelius was on his feet andrunning, when the pig caught him on the legs and tripped him. The peopleand the army, with shouts and laughter, joined in the sport.Twist and dodge as he would, everywhere the ex-Chancellor of theExchequer was met or overtaken by the flying pig. He scuttled like afrightened rabbit in and out among the avocados and the palms. No handwas laid upon him, and his tormentors made way before him, but ever theypursued, and ever the pig flew as fast as hands could pick it up.As the chase died away down the Broom Road, Grief led the traders to theroyal treasury, and the day was well over ere the last Fitu-Ivan banknote had been redeemed with coin.VIIThrough the mellow cool of twilight a man paddled out from a clump ofjungle to the _Cantani_. It was a leaky and abandoned dugout, and hepaddled slowly, desisting from time to time in order to bale. TheKanaka sailors giggled gleefully as he came alongside and painfullydrew himself over the rail. He was bedraggled and filthy, and seemedhalf-dazed."Could I speak a word with you, Mr. Grief?" he asked sadly and humbly."Sit to leeward and farther away," Grief answered. "A little fartheraway. That's better."Cornelius sat down on the rail and held his head in both his hands."'Tis right," he said. "I'm as fragrant as a recent battlefield. My headaches to burstin'. My neck is fair broken. The teeth are loose in myjaws. There's nests of hornets buzzin' in my ears. My medulla oblongatais dislocated. I've been through earthquake and pestilence, and theheavens have rained pigs." He paused with a sigh that ended in a groan."'Tis a vision of terrible death. One that the poets never dreamed. Tobe eaten by rats, or boiled in oil, or pulled apart by wild horses--thatwould be unpleasant. But to be beaten to death with a dead pig!"He shuddered at the awfulness of it. "Sure it transcends the humanimagination."Captain Boig sniffed audibly, moved his canvas chair farther towindward, and sat down again."I hear you're runnin' over to Yap, Mr. Grief," Cornelius went on. "An'two things I'm wantin' to beg of you: a passage an' the nip of the oldsmoky I refused the night you landed."Grief clapped his hands for the black steward and ordered soap andtowels."Go for'ard, Cornelius, and take a scrub first," he said. "The boy willbring you a pair of dungarees and a shirt. And by the way, before yougo, how was it we found more coin in the treasury than paper you hadissued?""'Twas the stake of my own I'd brought with me for the adventure.""We've decided to charge the demurrage and other expenses and loss toTui Tulifau," Grief said. "So the balance we found will be turned overto you. But ten shillings must be deducted.""For what?""Do you think dead pigs grow on trees? The sum of ten shillings for thatpig is entered in the accounts."Cornelius bowed his assent with a shudder."Sure it's grateful I am it wasn't a fifteen-shilling pig or atwenty-shilling one."