252 
Wild Life in Southern Seas. 
For this was the King’s adopted son, and the 
apple of his eye. Children of his own he had 
none, and this child of his brother’s was the one 
object of affection in his savage mind. 
Presently the boy—a spoiled and petted 
tyrant (he is now King)—strikes one of the 
women a rude blow on the cheek, and desires 
her to haste and bring his bath towel—he 
would bathe in one of the King’s fresh water 
fish ponds. One by one the women of the 
harem rise to their feet, and with bent 
shoulders and downcast eyes pass the huge 
figure of their dreaded owner. For the boy 
must not be let to go alone for his bath. 
Perchance an old coconut might drop from a 
tree and fall near him if he wandered alone, 
and that would mean a sudden and bloody 
death for them. So one by one they file away 
through the groves of palm trees, the boy, pipe 
in mouth and towel on arm, leading the van. 
No one speaks to them as they pass through 
the village, and only the women may gaze at 
them ; the men, especially if they be young and 
stalwart, turn away their faces in silence till they 
pass. For perhaps a sly glance might pass, or an 
idle word be spoken, and then some day an evil 
