Thenhestrucklightlyonthebrimofmystrawhat；andthisblowhecontinuedtorepeatatintervals，sometimesbrushinginsteadmyarmandshoulder。Ihavehadpeopletrytomesmerisemeadozentimes，andneverwiththeleastresult。Butatthefirsttap-onaquarternomorevitalthanmyhat-brim，andfromnothingmorevirtuousthanaswitchofpalmwieldedbyamanIcouldnotevensee-sleeprusheduponmelikeanarmedman。Mysinewsfainted，myeyesclosed，mybrainhummed，withdrowsiness。Iresisted，atfirstinstinctively，thenwithacertainflurryofdespair，intheendsuccessfully；ifthatwereindeedsuccesswhichenabledmetoscrambletomyfeet，tostumblehomesomnambulous，tocastmyselfatonceuponmybed，andsinkatonceintoadreamlessstupor。
　　WhenIawokemycoldwasgone。SoIleaveamatterthatIdonotunderstand。
　　Meanwhilemyappetiteforcuriositiesnotusuallyverykeenhadbeenstrangelywhettedbythesacredboxes。Theywereofpandanuswood，oblonginshape，withaneffectofpillaringalongthesideslikestrawwork，lightlyfringedwithhairorfibreandstandingonfourlegs。Theoutsidewasneatasatoy；theinsideamysteryI
　　wasresolvedtopenetrate。Buttherewasalioninthepath。I
　　mightnotapproachTerutak’，sinceIhadpromisedtobuynothingintheisland；Idarednothaverecoursetotheking，forIhadalreadyreceivedfromhimmoregiftsthanIknewhowtorepay。Inthisdilemmatheschoonerbeingatlastreturnedwehitonadevice。CaptainReidcameforwardinmystead，professedanunbridledpassionfortheboxes，andaskedandobtainedleavetobargainforthemwiththewizard。ThatsameafternoonthecaptainandImadehastetotheinfirmary，enteredtheenclosure，raisedthemat，andhadbeguntoexaminetheboxesatourleisure，whenTerutak’swifebouncedoutofoneofthenighhouses，felluponus，sweptupthetreasures，andwasgone。Therewasneveramoreabsolutesurprise。Shecame，shetook，shevanished，wehadnotaguesswhither；andweremained，withfoolishlooksandlaughterontheemptyfield。Suchwasthefitprologueofourmemorablebargaining。
　　PresentlyTerutak’came，bringingTamaitialongwithhim，bothsmiling；andwefoursquattedwithouttherail。Inthethreemaniap’softheinfirmaryacertainaudiencewasgathered：thefamilyofasickchildundertreatment，theking’ssisterplayingcards，aprettygirl，whosworeIwastheimageofherfather；inallperhapsascore。Terutak’swifehadreturnedevenasshehadvanishedunseen，andnowsat，breathlessandwatchful，byherhusband’sside。Perhapssomerumourofourquesthadgoneabroad，orperhapswehadgiventhealertbyourunseemlyfreedom：
　　certain，atleast，thatinthefacesofallpresent，expectationandalarmweremingled。
　　CaptainReidannounced，withoutprefaceordisguise，thatIwascometopurchase；Terutak’，withsuddengravity，refusedtosell。
　　Hewaspressed；hepersisted。Itwasexplainedweonlywantedone：
　　nomatter，twowerenecessaryforthehealingofthesick。Hewasrallied，hewasreasonedwith：invain。Hesatthere，seriousandstill，andrefused。Allthiswasonlyapreliminaryskirmish；
　　hithertonosumofmoneyhadbeenmentioned；butnowthecaptainbroughthisgreatgunstobear。Henamedapound，thentwo，thenthree。Outofthemaniap’sonepersonafteranothercametojointhegroup，somewithmereexcitement，otherswithconsternationintheirfaces。Theprettygirlcrepttomyside；itwasthenthat-
　　surelywiththemostartlessflattery-sheinformedmeofmylikenesstoherfather。Tamaititheinfidelsatwithhangingheadandeverymarkofdejection。Terutak’streamedwithsweat，hiseyewasglazed，hisfaceworeapainfulrictus，hischestheavedlikethatofonespentwithrunning。Themanmusthavebeenbynaturecovetous；andIdoubtifeverIsawmoralagonymoretragicallydisplayed。Hiswifebyhissidepassionatelyencouragedhisresistance。
　　Andnowcamethechargeoftheoldguard。Thecaptain，makingaskip，namedthesurprisingfigureoffivepounds。Atthewordthemaniap’swereemptied。Theking’ssisterflungdownhercardsandcametothefronttolisten，acloudonherbrow。TheprettygirlbeatherbreastandcriedwithwearisomeiterationthatiftheboxwerehersIshouldhaveit。Terutak’swifewasbesideherselfwithpiousfear，herfacediscomposed，hervoicewhichscarceceasedfromwarningandencouragementshrillasawhistle。EvenTerutak’
　　lostthatimage-likeimmobilitywhichhehadhithertomaintained。
　　Herockedonhismat，threwuphisclosedkneesalternately，andstruckhimselfonthebreastafterthemannerofdancers。Buthecamegoldoutofthefurnace；andwithwhatvoicewaslefthimcontinuedtorejectthebribe。
　　Andnowcameatimelyinterjection。’Moneywillnothealthesick，’observedtheking’ssistersententiously；andassoonasI
　　heardtheremarktranslatedmyeyeswereunsealed，andIbegantoblushformyemployment。Herewasasickchild，andIsought，intheviewofitsparents，toremovethemedicine-box。Herewasthepriestofareligion，andIaheathenmillionairewascorruptinghimtosacrilege。Herewasagreedyman，tornintwainbetwixtgreedandconscience；andIsatbyandrelished，andlustfullyrenewedhistorments。AVE，CAESAR！Smotheredinacorner，dormantbutnotdead，wehavealltheonetouchofnature：aninfantpassionforthesandandbloodofthearena。SoIbroughttoanendmyfirstandlastexperienceofthejoysofthemillionaire，anddepartedamidsilentawe。NowhereelsecanIexpecttostirthedepthsofhumannaturebyanofferoffivepounds；nowhereelse，evenattheexpenseofmillions，couldIhopetoseetheevilofrichesstandsolegiblyexposed。Ofallthebystanders，nonebuttheking’ssisterretainedanymemoryofthegravityanddangerofthethinginhand。Theireyesglowed，thegirlbeatherbreast，insenselessanimalexcitement。Nothingwasofferedthem；theystoodneithertogainnortolose；atthemerenameandwindofthesegreatsumsSatanpossessedthem。
　　FromthissingularinterviewIwentstraighttothepalace；foundtheking；confessedwhatIhadbeendoing；beggedhim，inmyname，tocomplimentTerutak’onhisvirtue，andtohaveasimilarboxmadeformeagainstthereturnoftheschooner。Tembinok’，Rubam，andoneoftheDailyPapers-himweusedtocall’theFacetiaeColumn’-labouredforawhileofsomeidea，whichwasatlastintelligiblydelivered。TheyfearedIthoughttheboxwouldcureme；whereas，withoutthewizard，itwasuseless；andwhenIwasthreatenedwithanothercoldIshoulddobettertorelyonpain-
　　killer。IexplainedImerelywishedtokeepitinmy’outch’asathingmadeinApemamaandthesehonestmenweremuchrelieved。
　　Latethesameevening，mywife，crossingtheisletowindward，wasawareofsinginginthebush。Nothingismorecommoninthathourandplacethanthejubilantcarolofthetoddy-cutter，swinginghighoverhead，beholdingbelowhimthenarrowribbonoftheisle，thesurroundingfieldofocean，andthefiresofthesunset。Butthiswasofagravercharacter，andseemedtoproceedfromtheground-level。Advancingalittleinthethicket，Mrs。Stevensonsawaclearspace，afinematspreadinthemidst，andonthematawreathofwhiteflowersandoneofthedevil-workboxes。Awoman-
　　whomweguesstohavebeenMrs。Terutak’-satinfront，nowdroopingovertheboxlikeamotheroveracradle，nowliftingherfaceanddirectinghersongtoheaven。Apassingtoddy-cuttertoldmywifethatshewaspraying。Probablyshedidnotsomuchprayasdeprecate；andperhapseventheceremonywasoneofdisenchantment。
　　Fortheboxwasalreadydoomed；itwastopassfromitsgreenmedicine-tree，reverendprecinct，anddevoutattendants；tobehandledbytheprofane；tocrossthreeseas；tocometolandunderthefoolscapofSt。Paul’s；tobedomesticatedwithinthehailofLillieBridge；theretobedustedbytheBritishhousemaid，andtotakeperhapstheroarofLondonforthevoiceoftheouterseaalongthereef。BeforeevenwehadfinisheddinnerChenchhadbegunhisjourney，andoneofthenewspapershadalreadyplacedtheboxuponmytableasthegiftofTembinok’。
　　Imadehastetothepalace，thankedtheking，butofferedtorestorethebox，forIcouldnotbearthatthesickoftheislandshouldbemadetosuffer。Iwasamazedbyhisreply。Terutak’，itappeared，hadstillthreeorfourinreserveagainstanaccident；
　　andhisreluctance，andthedreadpaintedatfirstoneveryface，wasnotintheleastoccasionedbytheprospectofmedicaldestitution，butbytheimmediatedivinityofChench。HowmuchmoredidIrespecttheking’scommand，whichhadbeenabletoextortinamomentandfornothingasacrilegiousfavourthatIhadinvainsolicitedwithmillions！ButnowIhadadifficulttaskinfrontofme；itwasnotinmyviewthatTerutak’shouldsufferbyhisvirtue；andImustpersuadethekingtosharemyopinion，toletmeenrichoneofhissubjects，andwhatwasyetmoredelicate
　　topayformypresent。NothingshowsthekinginamorebecominglightthanthefactthatIsucceeded。Hedemurredattheprinciple；heexclaimed，whenheheardit，atthesum。’Plentymoney！’criedhe，withcontemptuousdispleasure。Buthisresistancewasneverserious；andwhenhehadblownoffhisill-
　　humour-’A’right，’saidhe。’Yougivehim。Mo’betta。’
　　Armedwiththispermission，Imadestraightfortheinfirmary。Thenightwasnowcome，cool，dark，andstarry。Onamathardbyaclearfireofwoodandcocoshell，Terutak’laybesidehiswife。
　　Bothweresmiling；theagonywasover，theking’scommandhadreconciledImustsupposetheiragitatingscruples；andIwasbiddentositbythemandsharethecirculatingpipe。IwasalittlemovedmyselfwhenIplacedfivegoldsovereignsinthewizard’shand；buttherewasnosignofemotioninTerutak’ashereturnedthem，pointedtothepalace，andnamedTembinok’。ItwasachangedscenewhenIhadmanagedtoexplain。Terutak’，long，dourScotsfishermanashewas，expressedhissatisfactionwithinbounds；butthewifebeamed；andtherewasanoldgentlemanpresent-herfather，Isuppose-whoseemednightranslated。Hiseyesstoodoutofhishead；’KAUPOI，KAUPOI-rich，rich！’ranonhislipslikearefrain；andhecouldnotmeetmyeyebutwhathegurgledintofoolishlaughter。
　　Imightnowgohome，leavingthatfire-litfamilypartygloatingovertheirnewmillions，andconsidermystrangeday。IhadtriedandrewardedthevirtueofTerutak’。Ihadplayedthemillionaire，hadbehavedabominably，andtheninsomedegreerepairedmythoughtlessness。AndnowIhadmybox，andcouldopenitandlookwithin。Itcontainedaminiaturesleeping-matandawhiteshell。
　　Tamaiti，interrogatednextdayastotheshell，explaineditwasnotexactlyChench，butacell，orbody，whichhewouldattimesinhabit。Askedwhytherewasasleeping-mat，heretortedindignantly，’Whyhaveyoumats?’AndthiswasthescepticalTamaiti！Butislandscepticismisneverdeeperthanthelips。
　　CHAPTERVII-THEKINGOFAPEMAMA