But the thought of these starers stuck in my mind, and presently I
came out again. The sun was now up, but it was still behind the
cape of woods. Say a quarter of an hour had come and gone. The
crowd was greatly increased, the far bank of the river was lined
for quite a way - perhaps thirty grown folk, and of children twice
as many, some standing, some squatted on the ground, and all
staring at my house. I have seen a house in a South Sea village
thus surrounded, but then a trader was thrashing his wife inside,
and she singing out. Here was nothing: the stove was alight, the
smoke going up in a Christian manner; all was shipshape and Bristol
fashion. To be sure, there was a stranger come, but they had a
chance to see that stranger yesterday, and took it quiet enough.
What ailed them now? I leaned my arms on the rail and stared back.
Devil a wink they had in them! Now and then I could see the
children chatter, but they spoke so low not even the hum of their
speaking came my length. The rest were like graven images: they
stared at me, dumb and sorrowful, with their bright eyes; and it
came upon me things would look not much different if I were on the
platform of the gallows, and these good folk had come to see me
hanged.

I felt I was getting daunted, and began to be afraid I looked it,
which would never do. Up I stood, made believe to stretch myself,
came down the verandah stair, and strolled towards the river.
There went a short buzz from one to the other, like what you hear
in theatres when the curtain goes up; and some of the nearest gave
back the matter of a pace. I saw a girl lay one hand on a young
man and make a gesture upward with the other; at the same time she
said something in the native with a gasping voice. Three little
boys sat beside my path, where, I must pass within three feet of