216 MYSTIC ISLES 



and in his twenties, their dual natures contrasting in 

 their broad shoulders and their swaying hips, their men's 

 parens and shirts, and bits of lace lingerie. I met them 

 half a dozen times a day, and as I was now known as a 

 resident, not the idler of a month, they bowed in hope 

 of recognition. 



In the Annexe all was quiet, but in the great saihng 

 canoe of Af a, on the grass by the water, there were two 

 girls smoking and humming, and waiting for the cow- 

 boy and the prize-fighter who lived beside me, and who 

 were dancing to-night at Fa'a. Like Indians, these 

 Tahitians, especially the women, would sit and watch 

 and wait for hours on hours, and make no complaint, 

 if only their dear one — dear mayhap for only a night — 

 came at last. 



I was awakened from happy sleep by the cries of a 

 frightened woman, confused with outlandish, savage 

 sounds. I lit my lamp and leaned over the balcony. 

 Under a flamboyant-tree was a girl defending herself 

 from the attack of Vava. She was screaming in ter- 

 ror, and the Dummy, a giant in strength, was holding 

 her and grunting his bestial laugh. I tlirew the rays 

 full in his face, and he looked up, saw me, and ran away 

 up the beach, yelping like a frustrated beast. In voice 

 and action he resembled an animal more than any hu- 

 man I had ever seen. The guilelessness and cunning of 

 child and fiend were in his dmnb soul. 



