OF THE SOUTH SEAS 261 



searched the premises. The boxer was afraid that after 

 we left he might roll a rock down our trail because of 

 our breaking his taboo. We found the spring from 

 which he drank, and a pool dug by Darling for bathing, 

 now only a mass of vegetation. Evidently the present 

 tenant was not an ablutionist. 



"There 's a beastly German down on that next level," 

 remarked the Christchurch Kid. " 'E 'ates this French- 

 man. Now they don't speak, but they sent warnin' to 

 each other o' trouble. The frog carries the revolver for 

 the sauer-kraut. Some day they '11 kill each other right 

 'ere. They 're both 'ermits, and 'ermits are terrible 

 when they get excited." 



It was almost a straight drop to the German's, a small 

 promontory, with an acre of land, a platform raised 

 eight feet on poles for a roof, and under it a berth. A 

 chest held his belongings. He lived on the fruit he 

 raised and the fish he caught in the sea, to which he went 

 every day. He tried to keep chickens, but the moun- 

 tain rats, of which Darling had trapped more than five 

 thousand, ate most of them. The German, too, was 

 away from his simple home. Both these men sought in 

 life only peace and plain living, yet were consumed with 

 hate. One day the upper dweller had accidentally 

 caused a small stone to roll down upon the other's roof. 

 The German had shouted something to the Frenchman, 

 hot words had passed, and now they carried revolvers 

 to intimidate or shoot each other. Their days and 

 nights were spent on plans to insult or injure. And 

 because of their feud they hated the whole world. 



Once again in Papeete, we met the Swiss of the Noa- 

 Noa who had intended to eat raw foods in the Mar- 



