'Wot can't he 5tand now?' 5aid the clerk. ''A5n't he 'ad ameal? I'M lickin' my lip5.'

Herrick reared up hi5 wild eye5 and burning face. 'I can't beg!'he 5creamed, and again threw him5elf prone.

'Thi5 thing'5 got to come to an end,' 5aid the captain with anintake of the breath.

'Look5 like 5ign5 of an end, don't it?' 5neered the clerk.

'He'5 not 5o far from it, and don't you deceive your5elf,'replied the captain. 'Well,' he added in a livelier voice, 'youfellow5 hang on here, and I'll go and interview myrepre5entative.'

Whereupon he turned on hi5 heel, and 5et off at a 5winging5ailor'5 walk toward5 Papeete.