The Ebbing Of The Tide

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Becke Louis. The Ebbing Of The Tide

“LULIBAN OF THE POOL”

NINIA

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II

III

BALDWIN’S LOISÈ—Miss Lambert

AT A KAFA-DRINKING

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II

MRS. LIARDET: A SOUTH SEA TRADING EPISODE

KENNEDY THE BOATSTEERER

A DEAD LOSS

HICKSON: A HALF-CASTE

A BOATING PARTY OF TWO

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II

“THE BEST ASSET IN A FOOL’S ESTATE”

DESCHARD OF ONEAKA

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III

IV

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VI

VII

NELL OF MULLINER’S CAMP

AURIKI REEF

AT THE EBBING OF THE TIDE

THE FALLACIES OF HILLIARD

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II

A TALE OF A MASK

THE COOK OF THE “SPREETOO SANTOO”—A STUDY IN BEACHCOMBERS

LUPTON’S GUEST: A MEMORY OF THE EASTERN PACIFIC

IN NOUMÉA

THE FEAST AT PENTECOST

AN HONOUR TO THE SERVICE

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Away out upon the wide Northern Pacific there is a group of three little islands. They are so very, very small that you need not seek to discover them on the map of the Pacific Ocean; but if any of you have a chart of the North or West Pacific, then you would easily be able to find them. Run your eye up north, away past the Equator, in the direction of China, and you will see, to the north of New Guinea, a large cluster of islands named the “Caroline Islands,” some of which are named, but most are not—only tiny dots no bigger than a pin’s head serve to mark their position. Perhaps, however—if you get a German chart—you may see one of the largest of the small dots marked “Pingelap,” and Pingelap is the name of the largest of the three little islands of my story; the others are called Tugulu and Takai.

Now, although Pingelap and Tugulu and Takai are so close together that at low tide one may walk across the coral reef that encircles the whole group from one island to another, yet are they lonely spots, for there is no other island nearer than Mokil, which is ninety miles away.

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Ninia dared not leave the canoe to seek for it in the intense darkness, and so clinging to the little craft, which soon filled again, they drifted about. The waters of the lagoon were now white with the breaking seas, and the wind blew with fierce, cruel, steadiness, and although they knew it not, they were being swept quickly away from the land towards the passage in the reef.

The rain had ceased now, and the water being warm none of them felt cold, but the noise of the wind and sea was so great that they had to shout loudly to each other to make their voices heard.

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