An Island King. 
253 
tongue might whisper that Teran, the King’s 
toddy-cutter, had said to a comrade that 
Nebong, the tenth wife of the King, was good 
to look upon. Then would men come to 
Teran’s house in the night, and call to him 
to rise and come with them, and then as he 
walked with them along the darkened path a 
knife would gleam, or a shot ring out, and 
Teran be heard of no more. Neither would 
his name again be spoken, unless in a whisper, 
among those of his own kith and kin. 
So in this way went on the days on surf-girt 
Apamama, and Apinoka the King grew fat 
and waxed strong, and the terror of his name, 
and cold, merciless nature reached from Arorai 
in the south, to Butaritari in the north. But, 
by-and-by, there came about a rumour that 
all this steady buying of rifles and revolvers, 
and ammunition, meant ill for the people of 
the islands to the south, and many of the white 
traders, who hated the grim old despot, joined 
hands with their hereditary foes, the native 
teachers, and made common cause together for 
his downfall, which soon came about, for one 
day a British gunboat steamed into the lagoon. 
