“What’s utu?” said Jem, in a surly tone.
“Payment.”
“Oh, then we’ll give him a bit of ’bacco.”
He offered the New Zealander his tobacco-bag, which was quietly annexed with a smile.
“There, we’ll leave you the fruit. They’re good eating, my lads, and if at any time before you go, you feel disposed to settle down with us, there’s plenty of room, and it won’t be very long before you’ll grow into chiefs.”
He nodded, and then said a few words to his companion, who smiled at the two strangers in turn, after which they went off together into the forest, and were gone.
“Ugh!” ejaculated Jem. “Don’t know whether it arn’t safer aboard ship after all.”
“Why do you say that?” cried Don.
“Because whenever that black chap looks at me, he gives me the shivers.”
“Why?”