"Let it be as she says, O Kobo."
The old man was naturally inclined to mercy. The fierce passion of the morning had spent itself. The taboo had been broken, but nothing had happened. The things of the god were back in their places. Truda's suggestion might have persuaded him without the threat. But the threat had persuaded Hano.
"It shall be as you say," answered Kobo.
"Swear it," cried Truda.
"By the broken taboo, by the god whose things you have put back, by the great Tangaroa himself, I swear it," cried Kobo, turning to the others.
"We all swear."
Truda instantly stepped back from the verge.
"And you will marry me, Truda; you will be my woman?"
"We shall see as to that when you have disposed of Beekman," said the girl. "You will wait for me," she said to Beekman; "not in another life, but there." She glanced downward.
Beekman nodded. He understood.