only unbeliever on the island, a gross materialist, who believed that
when he died he was dead. He believed merely in fair play and square
dealing. Petty meanness, in his code, was almost as serious as wanton
homicide; and I do believe that he respected a murderer more than a
man given to small practices.

Concerning me, personally, he objected to my doing anything that was
hurtful to me. Gambling was all right. He was an ardent gambler
himself. But late hours, he explained, were bad for one's health. He
had seen men who did not take care of themselves die of fever. He was
no teetotaler, and welcomed a stiff nip any time when it was wet work
in the boats. On the other hand, he believed in liquor in moderation.
He had seen many men killed or disgraced by square-face or Scotch.

Otoo had my welfare always at heart. He thought ahead for me, weighed
my plans, and took a greater interest in them than I did myself. At
first, when I was unaware of this interest of his in my affairs, he
had to divine my intentions, as, for instance, at Papeete, when I
contemplated going partners with a knavish fellow-countryman on a
guano venture. I did not know he was a knave. Nor did any white man in
Papeete. Neither did Otoo know, but he saw how thick we were getting,
and found out for me, and without my asking him. Native sailors from
the ends of the seas knock about on the beach in Tahiti; and Otoo,
suspicious merely, went among them till he had gathered sufficient
data to justify his suspicions. Oh, it was a nice history, that of
Randolph Waters. I couldn't believe it when Otoo first narrated it;
but when I sheeted it home to Waters he gave in without a murmur, and
got away on the first steamer to Aukland.

At first, I am free to confess, I couldn't help resenting Otoo's