"They are very friendly and seem very glad to see us," said Jean, and they went on to Aia.
"Something wrong," said Captain Cathie, as the Torch drew in.
The village was not in its usual place. There were no people about.
They landed cautiously, Blair and Cathie and half a dozen men, and found the houses in ruins. With added caution they climbed the hill, and in time came upon the villagers lurking in holes and crannies.
Their story was simple. The very day after the Torch's last visit, the men of Kanele, headed by Maru and young Kahili, had come over in their canoes and demanded the goods they had received from the white men. These being refused, they proceeded to take them by force. The Aia men were outnumbered and beaten, their village burned, and several of them killed—and eaten. The rest had lived in the fear of death ever since.
Blair was a man of wrath that day. His first feeling was the same as Captain Cathie's, in whom the natural man always ran strong.
"Well, captain, what do you advise?" he asked.
"I'd like to give those Kanele men a right good skelping," said Cathie warmly. "Something they wouldn't forget in a hurry."
"So would I, but I'm not sure of the wisdom of it."
"Truckling beggars! Sweet as milk when we're there, and playing the devil the minute our back's turned. They need a lesson."