CHAPTER XVII

THE PEARL

The company gathered under Farmer Carwell's hospitable roof were naturally amazed at the unexpected appearance of Tera's countryman. Jack, who, of course, had been in Koiau, recognized him at once as one of the smaller chiefs, and came forward to salute him. So pleased was Tolai at being addressed in his native tongue, that he insisted upon rubbing noses with Finland, much to the amusement of Rachel and her father.

"You good man. You savvy me," said Tolai, in his broken English. "I glad see you, Jacky. Tera here, she glad see me."

"I am astonished to see you," said Tera, frowning somewhat. "What has brought you here?"

"Viara--she sent me all-e-same."

"My mother?" said the girl, looking at Tolai anxiously. "Why?"

"Too much devil in Koiau," replied the Polynesian, "no help big chief. Viara, she say you go Misi Johnson. Tolai he no shamed, he go all-e-same, and--dat is----" Here the native's stock of English gave out, and he slid into a long explanation in his own vernacular.

Both Jack and Tera listened attentively.

"What is he talking about?" asked the inspector, curiously.

Tera explained. It seemed that her uncle Niga had revolted against his brother Buli, and there was trouble in the island. Buli wished his followers to become converts to Christianity, whereas Niga, as the head of the heathen party, desired to drive the missionaries from the island. Viara, the wife of Buli and mother of Tera, had sent Tolai to England to see Johnson, and warn him of the difficulties Tera might expect to meet with on her return. Tolai had embarked on a fruit schooner trading to Sydney, and from that port he had worked his way to London before the mast. Buli had given him Shackel's address. Arrived there, the captain's sister, having provided him with money, sent him off to Grimleigh in quest of Johnson. He had been told that Tera, after the trial, had gone on to Carwell's, and thus he had presented himself at the door.

"But there is something else," said Jack, when Tera had told all this to the company. "I can see it in the Kanaka's eye."

Tera of course agreed with Jack, and began to question Tolai anew. It was soon evident that Finland was right. The man was keeping something back. But in spite of all Tera's commands he refused to tell it to any one but Mr. Johnson. On learning this, Tera said she would take him to the minister herself, and set out there and then. Chard took the opportunity of putting a few questions to Pharaoh Lee touching his relations with Zara; and Moss, at rest in his mind about the pearls, took his departure from Poldew.

"Bring back the man to stay here," said Carwell to Tera; "as a native he may find difficulty in getting a bed in Poldew."

"Thank you, Mr. Carwell, I will."

When they arrived at Mr. Johnson's house, the minister was surprised to see Tera, but he was still more surprised at the sight of Tolai. He spoke the native tongue fluently, and Tolai asked to see him alone. So the preacher sent Tera into the kitchen with his mother for company. In half an hour's time he joined them and gave the Polynesian a good meal. The minister was pale and anxious. It was evident that Tolai's message had been an alarming one.

"What is the matter?" Tera asked at once.

"Nothing; nothing. I have nothing to tell you," rejoined Johnson, and he escaped back to the study, leaving Tolai eating.

But Tera was not to be put off in this way. She knew that there was something serious the matter, and, determined to learn what it was, she followed her guardian into the study. As she closed the door, and came forward with a frown on her handsome face, Johnson looked at her apprehensively, and made a gesture of refusal. This Tera disregarded altogether.

"You do not wish to tell me about Tolai," she said in sharper tones than were usual with her, "but I must know, Misi. It is only fair that I should."

"I cannot tell you now, Bithiah. Later on I may do so."

"Is it a message from my mother?"

"Yes, to me. I am not to inform you until I think fit. The time has not yet come."

"Is the Great Chief dead?"

"Buli? God forbid! No; he is well, and Viara also. Up to the present Niga has not succeeded in destroying our infant church. Tera," he added earnestly, "do not frown on me, my child. You know I have your welfare at heart. When possible, I will let you know Viara's message. At present, let me tell you there is nothing that need disquiet you."

Tera looked at her guardian keenly, and apparently her distrust passed away. "You are a good man, Misi. I place my heart in your hand. And now I wish you to do something for me."

"What is it?" asked Johnson, resting his aching head on his hand.

"I wish you to marry me to Jack!"

"No, no, I cannot do that. You ask me too much."

"Misi!" Tera knelt down beside Johnson and seized his hand, which trembled in her grasp. "You must be brave as you are good. I was wrong to run away as I did and give you pain, but I feared you would part me from Jack. I love him, and I cannot love you. We wish to sail next week for the South Seas--for my own island--and we must be married before we go. You are my friend--my guardian; you will surely do me this last kindness."

Johnson groaned. Curious to say, since Tera had returned, he found that his love was not so strong as it had been. Nevertheless, he felt a pang at giving her to another man. That his should be the hand to make them one was too much to ask. He feared it was beyond his strength. But the perils which he had escaped had rendered him grateful to God for the protection vouchsafed him. He felt that he should exercise some self-denial--make some sacrifice. Therefore, he made up his mind to curb this love which overwhelmed his soul, and since he could not gain Tera for himself, to place her under the protection of a husband who would make her happy and protect her from harm. In Koiau it would be well that Tera should marry a Christian, for with her own influence, and that of her European husband, they might hope to do much for the people.

"I will do what you wish," he said, in a low voice, "I will marry you to Finland in Bethgamul."

Tera uttered an exclamation of joy, and kissed the hand she held. He winced at that soft touch. The girl turned to go, but he stopped her before she could reach the door.

"Take Tolai with you," he said gently.

"Ioé! Mr. Carwell told me to bring him back."

"Never go anywhere without Tolai."

"Not even when I go with Jack?"

"Not even then," said Johnson, decisively. "Wherever you go, Tolai must be by your side. It is Viara's wish."

"I will obey. But why this protection, Misi?"

"That you shall know later. At present, be content to learn that Viara wishes you to be attended constantly by Tolai. He was sent to me for that purpose. Now go, my dear. We shall meet again soon."

When Tera left the room, Johnson felt a strange calm stealing over him. His mad passion seemed to be wearing itself out by its own violence. No longer did he feel despair when Tera left his side, and he hoped that when called upon to fulfil his projected sacrifice he would be able to do it with calmness and dignity. It was with a feeling of relief to him that his malady of the heart was passing away. Soon he would be a free man; would be able to attend to his religious duties as of yore unhindered by the storm and stress of a hopeless love. He would return to his studies, to his old meditative life. But Miss Arnott? As the thought of her entered his mind, Johnson recalled his debts and the burden of gratitude which she had placed on his shoulders. Unless he could discharge that claim, by repaying the money she had lent him--and Johnson knew not where to obtain so large a sum--he feared the discharge would have to take the form of marriage. The idea dismayed him, still it was not so unpalatable to him as it had been.

At this point his meditations were interrupted by the appearance of Mrs. Slade, who was ushered in by his mother. The poor little woman's black eyes were red with weeping, and she seemed to be greatly agitated. Terror struck at Johnson's heart; for so many ills had befallen him that he quite expected more to follow. The sight of Mrs. Slade in this tearful condition made him fear she was a messenger of evil.

"What is the matter?" he asked, rising nervously when they were alone.

"Oh, sir," cried Mrs. Slade, dropping limply into a chair, "I know you ain't no parson of mine, as I was brought up in the Church of England. But you're the only parson that I can come to for advice. You are her friend, you know."

"Whose friend?"

"That Bithiah--Tera--oh, I don't know what her heathen name is, but she's a minx if ever there was one."

"Mrs. Slade, I cannot hear Bithiah spoken of like this. Why do you cry? What have you to urge against her?"

"Jeremiah!" said Mrs. Slade, and began to weep anew.

"Your husband?" said Johnson, beginning to feel impatient--for after all she did not belong to Bethgamul; "what of him?"

"He's a beast!"

"Did you come here to tell me that? I must confess I take no interest in your domestic affairs, Mrs. Slade."

The little woman's eyes began to glitter with ominous fire. "Now don't you be nasty, sir. It's all your fault."

"What is all my fault?"

"Jeremiah's goings on. Why did you bring that horrid nigger girl, as isn't respectable, to this place, with her dirty heathen ways? I thought it was Zara Lovell," lamented Mrs. Slade, "as he was after. But she's dead, they tell me--killed in mistake for your heathen. But it's not Zara, it never was her--though I've called her all the names I could lay my tongue to." Mrs. Slade's voice jumped an octave and she shook with rage. "It's your Bithiah!"

"What do you mean?" cried the minister, now really angry. "Bithiah is engaged to marry Finland. Do you dare to----"

"Oh, I know my own knowing, sir," interrupted Mrs. Slade, tossing her head. "A nice wife Mr. Finland will get. She carries on with my Jeremiah. Oh yes, she does! I dare say she ran away first, and he went up to London to meet her."

"Slade went to London at my request, on my business."

"I dare say. You're in the plot, too. You want Jeremiah to run away with that girl. But he shan't--he shan't! I'll pull her hair out!"

Johnson could not forbear a smile. The idea of coupling Tera with the lanky red-haired policeman seemed too absurd. "Really, Mrs. Slade," he exclaimed, with as much composure as he could command, "you're quite wrong. Bithiah does not know your---- Ah!" the preacher jumped, "what is that?"

Mrs. Slade had stronger nerves, and did not jump, but she also turned towards the window. "It's one of them dratted gipsies," said she, in an acidulated voice. "Pharaoh Lee, what do you mean by poking your nose into private business?"

"May I come in, rye?" said he--for it was indeed Pharaoh who stood in the window--Pharaoh, haggard and fierce-looking. "I want to speak to you--and to her."

"Well, I'm sure," gasped Jemima; "the impertinence!"

"I am engaged just now, Lee," said the minister, annoyed at the man's intrusion; "and may I remind you that in civilized communities visitors usually enter by the door."

"I'm sorry, rye, but I came in the easiest way I could." Lee stepped into the room. "I followed this woman up here."

"Woman yourself, fellow! How dare you?"

"Why did you follow her?" asked the preacher, to prevent a quarrel.

"To ask her about Zara."

"What do I know of your dirt?" said Mrs. Slade, disdainfully.

"Your husband knows about her, if you don't," retorted Pharaoh. "But why do I say your husband? As I live, I believe Slade is the husband of Zara, and you----"

"I'll scratch your face if you call me names," shrieked Mrs. Slade. "Jeremiah's my husband. I have my marriage lines to prove it. I'm a respectable woman; none o' yer gipsy trash."

"Your husband was in love with Zara a year ago!"

"That's a lie," contradicted the woman. "I thought he was, but he wasn't. I've just found out that it was Mr. Johnson's nigger girl he was after, and I've come up to tell him so. Ay, and she was sweet on him, too!"

"Impossible; ridiculous!"

"I tell you she was, sir!"

"Hold your tongue," cried Lee, ferociously. "Slade was in love with Zara. I believe he married her first and you afterwards. I have no doubt he murdered her to conceal that first marriage."

Johnson uttered an exclamation, and Mrs. Slade grew a trifle pale. "It ain't true," she said vehemently; "you know it ain't. It was this Bithiah girl, not Zara. Why did she give him one of her pearls if it wasn't? Look here!"

The woman fished a pearl out of a scrap of newspaper and held it up. "I found this in Slade's box!"

"A pearl?" cried Pharaoh, snatching it; "then this proves his guilt. Tera said to-day in court that she gave a pearl to Zara in exchange for her dress. I believe Slade killed Zara and took this pearl from her dead body!"