258 
SOUTH SEA 
her beloved ; but the guards and the priests quickly pro- 
ceeded to divide them ; and they unbound, and were 
about to thrust the bewildered Tuanoa among the savage 
group, who thirsted for his blood. The gate of the 
enclosure was thrown open— already the savage hand 
was raised to smite with deadly violence — already the 
maddened and frenzied eyes of fanatic men were gleam- 
ing with murderous excitement to grace the royal death ; 
the impatient loyal crowd, heap upon heap, bent to and 
fro in eagerness to slay one of themselves. 
But the enchanter at this moment appeared among the 
people ; he pointed to an object which appeared upon 
the. ocean at a great distance; all eyes were instantly 
directed towards it. During the confusion, a stone was 
hurled by an unseen hand, which struck Nahi, and 
killed him in an instant, but the event scarcely received 
attention. The object to which the enchanter still 
pointed approached the island rapidly— it appeared larger 
every moment, in a short time its colour was distin- 
guishable ; fear and curiosity increased, for never had the 
people witnessed such a sight before ; at times it appeared 
of an immense breadth, with wide spreading wings, and 
then in a moment or two it would appear quite narrow 
but of great height ; occasionally its apparent wings 
shook, then anon the whole mass appeared to stoop to 
the surface of the ocean. The princes, chiefs, and the 
people went down to the edge of the sea, the victims 
surrounded by their kindred followed, the prophecy was 
fulfilled ; they were liberated by common consent. 
> T ever can poet or painter describe or represent the two 
