and couldn't do what we pleased. The mere idea has always put my
monkey up, and I rapped my speech out pretty big. Then Case
translated it - or made believe to, rather - and the first chief
replied, and then a second, and a third, all in the same style,
easy and genteel, but solemn underneath. Once a question was put
to Case, and he answered it, and all hands (both chiefs and
commons) laughed out aloud, and looked at me. Last of all, the
puckered old fellow and the big young chief that spoke first
started in to put Case through a kind of catechism. Sometimes I
made out that Case was trying to fence, and they stuck to him like
hounds, and the sweat ran down his face, which was no very pleasant
sight to me, and at some of his answers the crowd moaned and
murmured, which was a worse hearing. It's a cruel shame I knew no
native, for (as I now believe) they were asking Case about my
marriage, and he must have had a tough job of it to clear his feet.
But leave Case alone; he had the brains to run a parliament.

"Well, is that all?" I asked, when a pause came.

"Come along," says he, mopping his face; "I'll tell you outside."

"Do you mean they won't take the taboo off?" I cried.

"It's something queer," said he. "I'll tell you outside. Better
come away."

"I won't take it at their hands," cried I. "I ain't that kind of a
man. You don't find me turn my back on a parcel of Kanakas."

"You'd better," said Case.