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The gust of wind struck the pandanus tree overhead and tore through
the palms beyond； flinging half a dozen ripe cocoanuts with heavy thuds
to the ground。 Then came the rain out of the distance； advancing with the
roar of a gale of wind and causing the water of the lagoon to smoke in
driven windrows。 The sharp rattle of the first drops was on the leaves
when Raoul sprang to his feet。
〃A thousand Chili dollars； cash down； Mapuhi；〃 he said。 〃And two
hundred Chili dollars in trade。〃
〃I want a house〃 the other began。
〃Mapuhi！〃 Raoul yelled； in order to make himself heard。 〃You are a
fool！〃
He flung out of the house； and； side by side with the mate； fought his
way down the beach toward the boat。 They could not see the boat。 The
tropic rain sheeted about them so that they could see only the beach under
their feet and the spiteful little waves from the lagoon that snapped and bit
at the sand。 A figure appeared through the deluge。 It was Huru…Huru； the
man with the one arm。
〃Did you get the pearl？〃 he yelled in Raoul's ear。
〃Mapuhi is a fool！〃 was the answering yell； and the next moment they
were lost to each other in the descending water。
Half an hour later； Huru…Huru； watching from the seaward side of the
atoll； saw the two boats hoisted in and the Aorai pointing her nose out to
sea。 And near her； just come in from the sea on the wings of the squall； he
saw another schooner hove to and dropping a boat into the water。 He knew
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her。 It was the OROHENA； owned by Toriki； the half…caste trader； who
served as his own supercargo and who doubtlessly was even then in the
stern sheets of the boat。 Huru…Huru chuckled。 He knew that Mapuhi owed
Toriki for trade goods advanced the year before。
The squall had passed。 The hot sun was blazing down； and the lagoon
was once more a mirror。 But the air was sticky like mucilage； and the
weight of it seemed to burden the lungs and make breathing difficult。
〃Have you heard the news； Toriki？〃 Huru…Huru asked。 〃Mapuhi has
found a pearl。 Never was there a pearl like it ever fished up in Hikueru；
nor anywhere in the Paumotus； nor anywhere in all the world。 Mapuhi is a
fool。 Besides； he owes you money。 Remember that I told you first。 Have
you any tobacco？〃
And to the grass shack of Mapuhi went Toriki。 He was a masterful
man； withal a fairly stupid one。 Carelessly he glanced at the wonderful
pearlglanced for a moment only； and carelessly he dropped it into his
pocket。
〃You are lucky；〃 he said。 〃It is a nice pearl。 I will give you credit on
the books。〃
〃I want a house；〃 Mapuhi began； in consternation。 〃It must be six
fathoms〃
〃Six fathoms your grandmother！〃 was the trader's retort。 〃You want to
pay up your debts； that's what you want。 You owed me twelve hundred
dollars Chili。 Very well； you owe them no longer。 The amount is squared。
Besides； I will give you credit for two hundred Chili。 If； when I get to
Tahiti； the pearl sells well； I will give you credit for another hundredthat
will make three hundred。 But mind； only if the pearl sells well。 I may even
lose money on it。〃
Mapuhi folded his arms in sorrow and sat with bowed head。 He had
been robbed of his pearl。 In place of the house； he had paid a debt。 There
was nothing to show for the pearl。
〃You are a fool；〃 said Tefara。
〃You are a fool；〃 said Nauri； his mother。 〃Why did you let the pearl
into his hand？〃
〃What was I to do？〃 Mapuhi protested。 〃I owed him the money。 He
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knew I had the pearl。 You heard him yourself ask to see it。 I had not told
him。 He knew。 Somebody else told him。 And I owed him the money。〃
〃Mapuhi is a fool；〃 mimicked Ngakura。
She was twelve years old and did not know any better。 Mapuhi
relieved his feelings by sending her reeling from a box on the ear； while
Tefara and Nauri burst into tears and continued to upbraid him after the
manner of women。
Huru…Huru； watching on the beach； saw a third schooner that he knew
heave to outside the entrance and drop a boat。 It was the Hira； well named；
for she was owned by Levy； the German Jew； the greatest pearl buyer of
them all； and； as was well known； Hira was the Tahitian god of fishermen
and thieves。
〃Have you heard the news？〃 Huru…Huru asked； as Levy； a fat man with
massive asymmetrical features； stepped out upon the beach。 〃Mapuhi
has found a pearl。 There was never a pearl like it in Hikueru； in all the
Paumotus； in all the world。 Mapuhi is a fool。 He has sold it to Toriki for
fourteen hundred ChiliI listened outside and heard。 Toriki is likewise a
fool。 You can buy it from him cheap。 Remember that I told you first。 Have
you any tobacco？〃
〃Where is Toriki？〃
〃In the house of Captain Lynch； drinking absinthe。 He has been there
an hour。〃
And while Levy and Toriki drank absinthe and chaffered over the pearl；
Huru…Huru listened and heard the stupendous price of twenty…five
thousand francs agreed upon。
It was at this time that both the OROHENA and the Hira； running in
close to the shore； began firing guns and signalling frantically。 The three
men stepped outside in time to see the two schooners go hastily about and
head off shore； dropping mainsails and flying jibs on the run in the teeth of
the squall that heeled them far over on the whitened water。 Then the rain
blotted them out。
〃They'll be back after it's over；〃 said Toriki。 〃We'd better be getting out
of here。〃
〃I reckon the glass has fallen some more；〃 said Captain Lynch。
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He was a white…bearded sea…captain； too old for service； who had
learned that the only way to live on comfortable terms with his asthma
was on Hikueru。 He went inside to look at the barometer。
〃Great God！〃 they heard him exclaim； and rushed in to join him at
staring at a dial； which marked twenty…nine…twenty。
Again they came out； this time anxiously to consult sea and sky。 The
squall had cleared away； but the sky remained overcast。 The two schooners；
under all sail and joined by a third； could be seen making back。 A veer in
the wind induced them to slack off sheets； and five minutes afterward a
sudden veer from the opposite quarter caught all three schooners aback；
and those on shore could see the boom…tackles being slacked away or cast
off on the jump。 The sound of the surf was loud； hollow； and menacing；
and a heavy swell was setting in。 A terrible sheet of lightning burst before
their eyes； illuminating the dark day； and the thunder rolled wildly about
them。
Toriki and Levy broke into a run for their boats； the latter ambling
along like a panic…stricken hippopotamus。 As their two boats swept out the
entrance； they passed the boat of the Aorai coming in。 In the stern sheets；
encouraging the rowers； was Raoul。 Unable to shake the vision of the pearl
from his mind； he was returning to accept Mapuhi's price of a house。
He landed on the beach in the midst of a driving thunder squall that
was so dense that he collided with Huru…Huru before he saw him。
〃Too late；〃 yelled Huru…Huru。 〃Mapuhi sold it to Toriki for fourteen
hundred Chili； and Toriki sold it to Levy for twenty…five thousand francs。
And Levy will sell it in France for a hundred thousand francs。 Have you
any tobacco？〃
Raoul felt relieved。 His troubles about the pearl were over。 He need
not worry any more； even if he had not got the pearl。 But he did not
believe Huru…Huru。 Mapuhi might well have sold it for fourteen hundred
Chili； but that Levy； who knew pearls； should have paid twenty…five
thousand francs was too wide a stretch。 Raoul decided to interview
Captain Lynch on the subject； but when he arrived at that ancient mariner's
house； he found him looking wide…eyed at the barometer。
〃What do you read it？〃 Captain