shaking hands, and expected they would depart; but, before doing
so, Tararo went up to Jack and rubbed noses with him, after which
he did the same with Peterkin and me! Seeing that this was their
mode of salutation, we determined to conform to their custom, so we
rubbed noses heartily with the whole party, women and all! The
only disagreeable part of the process was, when we came to rub
noses with Mahine, and Peterkin afterwards said, that when he saw
his wolfish eyes glaring so close to his face, he felt much more
inclined to BANG than to RUB his nose. Avatea was the last to take
leave of us, and we experienced a feeling of real sorrow when she
approached to bid us farewell. Besides her modest air and gentle
manners she was the only one of the party who exhibited the
smallest sign of regret at parting from us. Going up to Jack, she
put out her flat little nose to be rubbed, and thereafter paid the
same compliment to Peterkin and me.

An hour later the canoe was out of sight, and we, with an
indefinable feeling of sadness creeping round our hearts, were
seated in silence beneath the shadow of our bower, meditating on
the wonderful events of the last few days.



CHAPTER XXI.



Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life - A sail! - An
unexpected salute - The end of the black cat - A terrible dive - An
incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.