72 MYSTIC ISLES 



when the maids were busied carrying champagne and 

 cheaper drinks to the verandas. 



I saw her at her best when El Presidente Sarmiento, 

 an Argentine training-ship, came to port with a hundred 

 cadets. A madness then possessed the girls of Tahiti. 



Forsaking their old loves or those of the moment, they 

 threw themselves into the arms of the visitors, deter- 

 mined on conquest. The quays where the launches of 

 the Sarmiento landed their passengers, and the streets 

 about the saloons, restaurants, and theaters, were 

 thronged with the fairest and gayest girls of the island. 

 They poured in from the country to share in the love- 

 making. The cafes were filled with dancing and singing 

 crowds, the volatile Argentineans matching the Tahi- 

 tians in abandon and ardor. 



Accordions, violins, guitars, and mandolins were 

 played everywhere. The scores of public automobiles 

 were engaged by joyous parties who sallied to the rural 

 resorts, each Juan with his vahine. Mostly unable to 

 exchange a word, they were kissing and embracing in 

 their seats. The ship had been there a year before, and 

 many of the men were hunting former sweethearts. 

 They found that very difficult, as they had not accurate 

 descriptions. 



"A beauty named Atupu," or "A black-eyed girl?" 

 They had no aid among the girls they interrogated. 



"Why bother with some one who maj'^ be dead when 

 we are here?" they asked. And Juan listened to the 

 sirens and rested content. 



At Lovaina's there were seventy to dinner. Captain 

 and officers were cheek by jowl with gunners and plain 

 sailors. The veranda was jammed with tables, corks 



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