OF THE SOUTH SEAS 5 



Instantly before me came Munkacsy's picture of the 

 Master before Pilate, evoked by the profanity of the 

 wharf boss, but explaining the vision of a moment ago. 

 The Noa-Noa emitted a cry from her iron throat. The 

 engines started, and the distance betvreen our deck and 

 the pier grew as our bow swung toward the Golden 

 Gate. The strange man who had been put ashore, with 

 his one sandal in his hand, and holding his torn toga 

 about him, hastened to the nearest stringer of the wharf 

 and waved good-bj^ to us. It was as if a prophet, or 

 even Saul of Tarsus, blessed us in our quest. He stood 

 on a tall group of piles, and called out something in- 

 distinguishable. 



The passengers hurried below, to return in coats and 

 caps to meet the wind that blows from China, and the 

 second officer and the surgeon came by, talking ani- 

 matedly. 



"Oh, yus," said the seaman, chuckling, " 'e wuz 

 'auled out finally. The beggar 'ad 'id 'imself good and 

 proper this time. 'E wuz in the linen-closet, and 'ad 

 disguised 'imself as a bundle o' bloomin' barth-towels. 

 'E wuz a reg'lar grand Turk, 'e wuz. Blow me, if 

 you 'd 'a' knowed 'im from a bale of 'em, 'e wuz so 

 wrapped up in 'em. 'E almost 'ad us 'ull down this 

 time. The blighter made a bit of a row, and said as 'ow 

 he just could n't 'elp stowin' aw'y every boat for T'iti." 



"He 's a bally nut," said the surgeon. "I say, 

 though, he did take me back to Sunday school." 



I recalled a man who walked the streets of San Fran- 

 cisco carrying a small sign in his upraised hand, "Christ 

 has come!" He looked neither to the right nor the left, 

 but bore his curious announcement among the crowds 



