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To the traders who came and objected most strenuously of all； he said：
〃Your objections are valueless。 They consist merely of the damage that
may be done your businesses。 You are interested in making money； but I
am interested in saving souls。 The heathen of this dark land must be
saved。〃
John Starhurst was not a fanatic。 He would have been the first man to
deny the imputation。 He was eminently sane and practical。
He was sure that his mission would result in good； and he had private
visions of igniting the Pentecostal spark in the souls of the mountaineers
and of inaugurating a revival that would sweep down out of the mountains
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and across the length and breadth of the Great Land from sea to sea and to
the isles in the midst of the sea。 There were no wild lights in his mild gray
eyes； but only calm resolution and an unfaltering trust in the Higher Power
that was guiding him。
One man only he found who approved of his project； and that was Ra
Vatu； who secretly encouraged him and offered to lend him guides to the
first foothills。 John Starhurst； in turn； was greatly pleased by Ra Vatu's
conduct。 From an incorrigible heathen； with a heart as black as his
practices； Ra Vatu was beginning to emanate light。 He even spoke of
becoming Lotu。 True； three years before he had expressed a similar
intention； and would have entered the church had not John Starhurst
entered objection to his bringing his four wives along with him。 Ra Vatu
had had economic and ethical objections to monogamy。 Besides； the
missionary's hair…splitting objection had offended him； and； to prove that
he was a free agent and a man of honor； he had swung his huge war club
over Starhurst's head。 Starhurst had escaped by rushing in under the club
and holding on to him until help arrived。 But all that was now forgiven
and forgotten。 Ra Vatu was coming into the church； not merely as a
converted heathen； but as a converted polygamist as well。 He was only
waiting； he assured Starhurst； until his oldest wife； who was very sick；
should die。
John Starhurst journeyed up the sluggish Rewa in one of Ra Vatu's
canoes。 This canoe was to carry him for two days； when； the head of
navigation reached； it would return。 Far in the distance； lifted into the sky；
could be seen the great smoky mountains that marked the backbone of the
Great Land。 All day John Starhurst gazed at them with eager yearning。
Sometimes he prayed silently。 At other times he was joined in prayer
by Narau； a native teacher； who for seven years had been Lotu； ever since
the day he had been saved from the hot oven by Dr。 James Ellery Brown at
the trifling expense of one hundred sticks of tobacco； two cotton blankets；
and a large bottle of painkiller。 At the last moment； after twenty hours of
solitary supplication and prayer； Narau's ears had heard the call to go forth
with John Starhurst on the mission to the mountains。
〃Master； I will surely go with thee；〃 he had announced。
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John Starhurst had hailed him with sober delight。 Truly； the Lord was
with him thus to spur on so broken…spirited a creature as Narau。
〃I am indeed without spirit； the weakest of the Lord's vessels；〃 Narau
explained； the first day in the canoe。
〃You should have faith； stronger faith；〃 the missionary chided him。
Another canoe journeyed up the Rewa that day。 But it journeyed an
hour astern； and it took care not to be seen。 This canoe was also the
property of Ra Vatu。 In it was Erirola； Ra Vatu's first cousin and trusted
henchman； and in the small basket that never left his hand was a whale
tooth。 It was a magnificent tooth； fully six inches long； beautifully
proportioned； the ivory turned yellow and purple with age。 This tooth was
likewise the property of Ra Vatu； and in Fiji； when such a tooth goes forth；
things usually happen。 For this is the virtue of the whale tooth： Whoever
accepts it cannot refuse the request that may accompany it or follow it。
The request may be anything from a human life to a tribal alliance； and no
Fijian is so dead to honor as to deny the request when once the tooth has
been accepted。 Sometimes the request hangs fire； or the fulfilment is
delayed； with untoward consequences。
High up the Rewa； at the village of a chief； Mongondro by name； John
Starhurst rested at the end of the second day of the journey。 In the morning；
attended by Narau； he expected to start on foot for the smoky mountains
that were now green and velvety with nearness。 Mongondro was a sweet…
tempered； mild…mannered little old chief； short…sighted and afflicted with
elephantiasis； and no longer inclined toward the turbulence of war。 He
received the missionary with warm hospitality； gave him food from his
own table； and even discussed religious matters with him。 Mongondro was
of an inquiring bent of mind； and pleased John Starhurst greatly by asking
him to account for the existence and beginning of things。 When the
missionary had finished his summary of the Creation according to Genesis；
he saw that Mongondro was deeply affected。 The little old chief smoked
silently for some time。 Then he took the pipe from his mouth and shook
his head sadly。
〃It cannot be；〃 he said。 〃I； Mongondro； in my youth； was a good
workman with the adze。 Yet three months did it take me to make a canoe
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a small canoe； a very small canoe。 And you say that all this land and water
was made by one man〃
〃Nay； was made by one God； the only true God；〃 the missinary
interrupted。
〃It is the same thing；〃 Mongondro went on； 〃that all the land and all
the water； the trees； the fish； and bush and mountains； the sun； the moon；
and the stars； were made in six days！ No； no。 I tell you that in my youth I
was an able man； yet did it require me three months for one small canoe。 It
is a story to frighten children with； but no man can believe it。〃
〃I am a man；〃 the missionary said。
〃True； you are a man。 But it is not given to my dark understanding to
know what you believe。〃
〃I tell you； I do believe that everything was made in six days。〃
〃So you say； so you say；〃 the old cannibal murmured soothingly。
It was not until after John Starhurst and Narau had gone off to bed that
Erirola crept into the chief's house； and； after diplomatic speech； handed
the whale tooth to Mongondro。
The old chief held the tooth in his hands for a long time。 It was a
beautiful tooth； and he yearned for it。 Also； he divined the request that
must accompany it。 〃No； no； whale teeth were beautiful；〃 and his mouth
watered for it； but he passed it back to Erirola with many apologies。
。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
In the early dawn John Starhurst was afoot； striding along the bush
trail in his big leather boots； at his heels the faithful Narau； himself at the
heels of a naked guide lent him by Mongondro to show the way to the next
village； which was reached by midday。 Here a new guide showed the way。
A mile in the rear plodded Erirola； the whale tooth in the basket slung on
his shoulder。 For two days more he brought up the missionary's rear；
offering the tooth to the village chiefs。 But village after village refused the
tooth。 It followed so quickly the missionary's advent that they divined the
request that would be made； and would have none of it。
They were getting deep into the mountains； and Erirola took a secret
trail； cut in ahead of the missionary； and reached the stronghold of the Buli
of Gatoka。 Now the Buli was unaware of John Starhurst's imminent arrival。
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Also； the tooth was beautifulan extraordinary specimen； while th