OF THE SOUTH SEAS 321 



was the martyr, for he had to pull them apart every 

 minute. The rounds were of two minutes' duration, 

 and the rests one minute. After seven very tame 

 rounds, the spectators became angered, and in the eighth 

 Teaea went down, and took the count of ten on his hands 

 and feet, warily watching his opponent. In the ninth, 

 Opeta, excited by the demands of the gallery, slugged 

 him in the head. Teaea sought the boards again, and 

 the counting of ten by the referee began. 



The Mataiea boxer was on his back, but his glazing 

 eyes stared reproachfully at Opeta. The latter, now 

 clearly the victor, glanced at the red-headed girl, who 

 was dancing on the floor beside her perambulator and 

 waving her congratulations. The house was on its feet 

 yelling wildly to Teaea to rise. Those who had bet on 

 him were calling him a knave and a coward, while 

 Opeta's backers were imploring him to kill Teaea if he 

 stood up. The Raratonga champion became excited, 

 confused and when Teaea, at the call of eight, cautiously 

 turned over and lifted his head, he struck him lightly. 



The inhabitants of the country districts vociferated in 

 one voice : 



"Uahani! Uahani!" 



''Faufau! Faufau!" cried the gods. 



"Foul! Foul! 'E 'it' im, 'hand' e 's hon 'is 'ands 

 hand kneeses," exclaimed the Australian woman. 



The audience took up the chorus in French, Tahitian, 

 and English. Though Opeta had won them all by his 

 ability and fairness and was plainly the better man, the 

 sentiment was for the rules. The Christchurch Kid 

 thought a moment, and conferred with the announcer, 

 who talked with all the seconds. The spectators were 



