"No, upon my word, no."
When we stepped out on the porch, the islanders raised a howl. I never thought there were so many Polynesians in the world. I had never before stood in the face of a mob. Sailors or soldiers would not have made me so afraid.
"Don't be a coward," I said to myself. "On, by Joe, on."
Kircheiss and I stayed close together. The resident led us through the mob, which was overawed by his presence. We were halfway to the boat when a native in Colonial uniform stepped up. He had seen service with the British in France, we were afterward told.
"Shall I arrest them, sir?" he asked.
"Arrest what?" I shouted. "Shut your trap. Why should a fool like you try to arrest Norwegians?" Then I muttered to the resident: "If that fellow makes any fuss, I'll shoot him dead."
"Don't talk that way," he replied nervously, and waved the native soldier away.
The crowd followed us to the landing. A small rowboat picked us up.
"You won't keep me with you?" the resident asked again.
I assured him that we would not. So we rowed over and climbed into my boat, impelled less by his own desire than by the attitude of the natives.