Hino, the Apostate. 
345 
but evil will he bring to us,” and then went 
away. Then in ten days more the flocks of sea¬ 
birds called kanapu , that always had nested 
on Vahitahi, and on which the people fed now 
that there were no coconuts, left the island 
and returned no more. 
“ ’Tis the new lotu," said the people, and 
many a spear was shaken at the teacher, who 
now lived in Tati’s house. 
Then came long, long days of bitter hunger, 
and only one young coconut for each man or 
woman to drink ; and again the wind blew 
so strongly that no canoe could venture out to 
fish. Seven days it blew, and the seas burst 
over the outer reef, even at low tide, and swept 
across the lagoon into the village, and broke to 
pieces every canoe that lay on the beach. 
“ ’Tis the anger of the gods,” said Matara; 
and the people took up his words and repeated, 
“ Aye, ’tis the anger of the gods.” But Hino 
and two other women who constantly prayed 
with her to the true God, whose son is Jesus 
Christ, remained in the house and refused to 
make sacrifices, as did Tati and the rest of the 
people, upon the altars of the gods of Vahitahi. 
One day Matara spoke to the people openly, 
