312 TROPIC DAYS 



other's nervousness by reassuring gestures. Certain 

 that the trespasser on their dominion was incapable 

 of mischief, they began to chatter, showing fidgety 

 interest in the body, which they touched and poked 

 fearsomely with spears. 



Dead eyes stared unblinkingly at the sun through a 

 curtain of water, which had already cleaned them of 

 heat and passion, and wisps of red hair drifted over the 

 forehead. 



The untimely yelp of a dingo some few yards in the 

 jungle inspired a similar response from one of the men, 

 and without shyness or reserve the boy and girl joined 

 the throng, and all began to talk excitedly. Some of 

 the men assumed threatening attitudes towards the girl, 

 who stood submissively, while the boy talked in a rage 

 of excitement. He had chosen his mate, and would not, 

 even on pain of summary death, abandon her. 



So trivial an incident as the love affairs of boy and 

 girl could not compare with the phenomenon in the 

 water. The crisis was momentary. Amazement was 

 pictured in every face, and not a man but subjected the 

 bleeding body to gross contempt and what passed 

 among them for ridicule. They mimicked the high 

 stomach as they stood, as the dead man had stood, with 

 arms aloft in rebellion against his lot, and fell back, as 

 he had fallen, screaming, to kick and wallow on the 

 ground. Here was plot and matter for ludicrous cor- 

 roboree, the first rehearsal of which took place on the 

 scene. 



Soon curiosity took possession of the unstable actors. 

 The belt was removed, and on the purse being fumbled 

 with, several small pearls fell out. They were disre- 

 garded ; but the strong man of the party looped the belt 

 about his own inadequate waist, the girl hid the purse 

 (which had been passed from hand to hand) in her hair, 



