254 
Wild Life in Southern Seas. 
A message was sent to the King to come 
aboard, and with it a threat to make no delay, 
else matters would go ill with him. So in his 
white helmet-hat and black suit the King came 
off, rowed to the gunboat in his own whale¬ 
boat. With a glum, stolid look upon his face, 
and savage rage in his heart, he was helped 
up over the ship’s side, and escorted to the 
cabin, and in five minutes more he knew his 
power of conquest over other islands was gone 
for ever. 
But before a word was spoken on either side, 
the King walked over to the chair that was at 
the head of the table, and, with a snort of 
mingled bodily relief and defiance to the naval 
officer, managed to squeeze his huge body into 
a sitting posture. 
“ Get up out of that chair, you confounded 
savage,” said the captain, sharply. “ What do 
you mean by sitting down there ? Squat on 
your hams, like the thundering savage you 
are,” and he pointed to the cabin floor. “ You 
have no missionary or trading captain to deal 
with now.” 
Slowly he rose, fixing his eyes in won¬ 
dering rage upon the unmoved face of the 
