[Note: this transcription was produced by an automatic OCR engine]

RECRUITING FOR NATIVES 73

I would almost have preferred being alone to this
solitude z‘z deux. I sat on deck and listened to the
breakers. Often they sounded like a rushing express
train and awakened reminiscences of travel and
movement. The cool wind blew softly from afar,
and I could understand for the first time that longing
that asks the winds for news of home and friends. I
gave myself up wholly to this vague dreaming, call
it home—sickness, or what you will, it enlivened the
oppressive colourlessness of the days and the loneli-
ness of the nights. As usual, a heavy shower came,
luckily, perhaps, to interrupt all softer thoughts.
Then followed a few clear days, which changed
our mood entirely. The cutter rolled confidingly in
the morning breeze, and the sun glowed warm and
golden. In picturesque cascades the green forest
seemed to rush down the slopes to the bright coral
beach, on which the sea broke playfully. Once in a
while a bird called far off in the depths of the woods.
It was delicious to lie on the warm beach and be
dried and roasted by the sun, to think of nothing in
particular, but just to exist. Two wild pigs came to
the beach in the evening to dig for yarn that the
natives had buried there ; a chase, though unsuccess-
ful, gave excitement and movement. We could
venture far inland now without fear, for the natives
were all away at the feast. Brilliant sunsets closed
the days in royal splendour. Behind a heavy cloud-
bank which hid the sun, he seemed to melt in the
sea and to form one golden element. Out of the
cloud five yellow rays shot across the steel-blue