When Meri and Wal Jessop reached the village the chief explained to his followers¹ how the white men had recognised their friend, and the natives were excited at such an unlooked-for occurrence. A stretcher was quickly made of long poles and matting, and, accompanied by four stalwart natives, Wal Jessop and Meri returned to the Sing-Sing ground where they had left Edgar and Captain Manton. They carefully carried Manton to the village, and Wal Jessop went out to the schooner² to obtain drugs from the medicine chest.  
In the course of a few days Captain Manton was much better, and eager to be gone from the island. The chief and the natives, however, seemed loath³ to part with him, and Edgar thought there might be some trouble in getting him away. To make matters easier they presented Meri and most of the natives—men, women, and children—with gifts of beads⁴, cloth, and small ornaments⁵. It amused them to watch the women adorning⁶ their persons with bright red and yellow cloths, and they were particularly delighted some with the strings⁷ of bright-coloured beads.
 
Edgar noticed the natives, even when going to walk in the plantations⁹, were armed, and Meri said they were always at war with one or more of the neighbouring tribes. Even the women and children were armed, and it was surprising with what accuracy of aim the smallest lads could shoot their arrows. These natives were all fond of sports, and spent the greater part of their time practising with the various weapons they used.
 
Meri, at Edgar’s request, ordered some native sports to take place; and the men, nothing loath, prepared for them in a very short time. Wal Jessop promised the most successful should have prizes given them, selected from the stock of trade goods on board the schooner.
 
Spear-throwing was first undertaken, and the natives aimed with wonderful skill, far better than the Enooma blacks. They hurled¹⁰ their spears with terrific force, and often buried them six inches deep in the trunk of a tree the wood of which was almost as hard as iron. Smooth stones were piled up on the beach, and the natives, using slings¹¹, whirled them out to sea for such a long distance that the splash made when they fell could hardly be seen. Club-swinging they were clever at, and an attack with clubs, warded¹² off by wooden shields, made Edgar fearful for the result, so furious and excited did the combatants become.
 
The boys and girls, all naked, ran races on the clear white sand, and swam out to sea in the most daring manner. One lad, a son of the chief, shot his arrow through Meri’s fingers as he spread the back of his hand out wide against a tree. The girls were quite as active as the boys, and ran as fast, and swam as well. These youngsters had very little fear in them, and even a shark near the shore did not frighten them, for the lads would swim out with spears in their hands and attack the monsters.
 
The canoe-races caused much excitement, and the chief, Meri, paddled dexterously—in fact, he was superior to the others in most of the sports.
 
Edgar was much interested in watching the natives build a canoe. A tree was felled, and the branches cut off. Then, for a common fishing canoe, the log was hollowed out about fifteen feet long, and a rough canoe was soon formed. The better-built canoes were made of separate planks¹³ raised from the keel, and laid on in pieces from twenty-five to fifty feet long. Gum of the bread-fruit tree was used instead of pitch, and smeared¹⁴ over to make them water-tight. The inside and outside were smoothed, and when finished the canoe looked a creditable craft.
 
Although Edgar enjoyed the experiences he was going through at Tana, he was anxious to get away now Captain Manton had been discovered; but the chief always made some excuse for detaining them, and Wal Jessop said it would be safer to obtain his permission to leave. Captain Manton was also in a hurry to depart, and once more get to sea. Wal Jessop gave Meri to understand that it was necessary for them to leave, and the chief said he would consider the matter.
 
A meeting was held under the banyan¹⁵ tree in the marum, and the three friends looked on, much interested in the proceedings¹⁶.
 
Wal Jessop gathered that there was considerable opposition¹⁷ to Captain Manton’s departure, and that the chief did not care to resist the will of the natives. When the meeting was over, Meri said his people were not willing that Captain Manton should go with Edgar and Wal.
 
To this Wal Jessop made no reply, but after consulting Edgar and Captain Manton, it was arranged they should make a bolt for it at night, seize one of the canoes, and row back to the schooner.
 
Wal Jessop went to the schooner to give instructions for all to be ready for sailing immediately they were on board.
 
Towards evening, when the natives were returning from the plantation⁸, there was a great row amongst them. They came forward shouting, dancing, and gesticulating, and in their midst was a poor wretched native, almost ready to drop with fright. Meri’s men had kidnapped this man, who belonged to another tribe, and he knew, poor wretch¹⁸! the fate in store for him.
 
‘What will they do with that poor beggar?’ said Edgar.
 
‘Eat him probably,’ said Wal Jessop with a shudder¹⁹. ‘The natives here are cannibals.’
 
‘Horrible!’ said Edgar. ‘Can we do nothing to prevent it?’
 
‘I am afraid not,’ said Wal. ‘I will remonstrate²⁰ with the chief, but it will be all to no purpose. All we can do is to take advantage of their absence when the poor wretch is killed, and make for the schooner.’
 
‘Speak to Meri,’ said Edgar. ‘We ought to stop it if we can.’
 
Wal Jess............