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Also； the tooth was beautifulan extraordinary specimen； while the
coloring of it was of the rarest order。 The tooth was presented publicly。
The Buli of Gatoka； seated on his best mat； surrounded by his chief men；
three busy fly…brushers at his back； deigned to receive from the hand of his
herald the whale tooth presented by Ra Vatu and carried into the
mountains by his cousin； Erirola。 A clapping of hands went up at the
acceptance of the present； the assembled headman； heralds； and fly…
brushers crying aloud in chorus：
〃A！ woi！ woi！ woi！ A！ woi！ woi！ woi！ A tabua levu！ woi！ woi！ A
mudua； mudua； mudua！'
〃Soon will come a man； a white man；〃 Erirola began； after the proper
pause。 〃He is a missionary man； and he will come today。 Ra Vatu is
pleased to desire his boots。 He wishes to present them to his good friend；
Mongondro； and it is in his mind to send them with the feet along in them；
for Mongondro is an old man and his teeth are not good。 Be sure； O Buli；
that the feet go along in the boots。 As for the rest of him； it may stop here。〃
The delight in the whale tooth faded out of the Buli's eyes； and he
glanced about him dubiously。 Yet had he already accepted the tooth。
〃A little thing like a missionary does not matter；〃 Erirola prompted。
〃No； a little thing like a missionary does not matter；〃 the Buli
answered； himself again。 〃Mongondro shall have the boots。 Go； you young
men； some three or four of you； and meet the missionary on the trail。 Be
sure you bring back the boots as well。〃
〃It is too late；〃 said Erirola。 〃Listen！ He comes now。〃
Breaking through the thicket of brush； John Starhurst； with Narau
close on his heels； strode upon the scene。 The famous boots； having filled
in wading the stream； squirted fine jets of water at every step。 Starhurst
looked about him with flashing eyes。 Upborne by an unwavering trust；
untouched by doubt or fear； he exulted in all he saw。 He knew that since
the beginning of time he was the first white man ever to tread the
mountain stronghold of Gatoka。
The grass houses clung to the steep mountain side or overhung the
rushing Rewa。 On either side towered a mighty precipice。 At the best；
three hours of sunlight penetrated that narrow gorge。 No cocoanuts nor
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bananas were to be seen； though dense； tropic vegetation overran
everything； dripping in airy festoons from the sheer lips of the precipices
and running riot in all the crannied ledges。 At the far end of the gorge the
Rewa leaped eight hundred feet in a single span； while the atmosphere of
the rock fortress pulsed to the rhythmic thunder of the fall。
From the Buli's house； John Starhurst saw emerging the Buli and his
followers。
〃I bring you good tidings；〃 was the missionary's greeting。
〃Who has sent you？〃 the Buli rejoined quietly。
〃God。〃
〃It is a new name in Viti Levu；〃 the Buli grinned。 〃Of what islands；
villages； or passes may he be chief？〃
〃He is the chief over all islands； all villages； all passes；〃 John Starhurst
answered solemnly。 〃He is the Lord over heaven and earth； and I am come
to bring His word to you。〃
〃Has he sent whale teeth？〃 was the insolent query。
〃No； but more precious than whale teeth is the〃
〃It is the custom； between chiefs； to send whale teeth；〃 the Buli
interrupted。
〃Your chief is either a niggard； or you are a fool； to come empty…
handed into the mountains。 Behold； a more generous than you is before
you。〃
So saying； he showed the whale tooth he had received from Erirola。
Narau groaned。
〃It is the whale tooth of Ra Vatu；〃 he whispered to Starhurst。 〃I know
it well。 Now are we undone。〃
〃A gracious thing；〃 the missionary answered； passing his hand through
his long beard and adjusting his glasses。 〃Ra Vatu has arranged that we
should be well received。〃
But Narau groaned again； and backed away from the heels he had
dogged so faithfully。
〃Ra Vatu is soon to become Lotu；〃 Starhurst explained； 〃and I have
come bringing the Lotu to you。〃
〃I want none of your Lotu；〃 said the Buli； proudly。 〃And it is in my
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mind that you will be clubbed this day。〃
The Buli nodded to one of his big mountaineers； who stepped forward；
swinging a club。 Narau bolted into the nearest house； seeking to hide
among the woman and mats； but John Starhurst sprang in under the club
and threw his arms around his executioner's neck。 From this point of
vantage he proceeded to argue。 He was arguing for his life； and he knew it；
but he was neither excited nor afraid。
〃It would be an evil thing for you to kill me；〃 he told the man。 〃I
have done you no wrong； nor have I done the Buli wrong。〃
So well did he cling to the neck of the one man that they dared not
strike with their clubs。 And he continued to cling and to dispute for his life
with those who clamored for his death。
〃I am John Starhurst；〃 he went on calmly。 〃I have labored in Fiji for
three years； and I have done it for no profit。 I am here among you for good。
Why should any man kill me？ To kill me will not profit any man。〃
The Buli stole a look at the whale tooth。 He was well paid for the deed。
The missionary was surrounded by a mass of naked savages； all
struggling to get at him。 The death song； which is the song of the oven；
was raised； and his expostulations could no longer be heard。 But so
cunningly did he twine and wreathe his body about his captor's that the
death blow could not be struck。 Erirola smiled； and the Buli grew angry。
〃Away with you！〃 he cried。 〃A nice story to go back to the coasta
dozen of you and one missionary； without weapons； weak as a woman；
overcoming all of you。〃
〃Wait； O Buli；〃 John Starhurst called out from the thick of the scuffle；
〃and I will overcome even you。 For my weapons are Truth and Right； and
no man can withstand them。〃
〃Come to me； then；〃 the Buli answered； 〃for my weapon is only a poor
miserable club； and； as you say； it cannot withstand you。〃
The group separated from him； and John Starhurst stood alone； facing
the Buli； who was leaning on an enormous； knotted warclub。
〃Come to me； missionary man； and overcome me；〃 the Buli
challenged。
〃Even so will I come to you and overcome you；〃 John Starhurst made
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answer； first wiping his spectacles and settling them properly； then
beginning his advance。
The Buli raised the club and waited。
〃In the first place； my death will profit you nothing；〃 began the
argument。
〃I leave the answer to my club；〃 was the Buli's reply。
And to every point he made the same reply； at the same time watching
the missionary closely in order to forestall that cunning run…in under the
lifted club。 Then； and for the first time； John Starhurst knew that his death
was at hand。 He made no attempt to run in。 Bareheaded； he stood in the
sun and prayed aloudthe mysterious figure of the inevitable white man；
who； with Bible； bullet； or rum bottle； has confronted the amazed savage
in his every stronghold。 Even so stood John Starhurst in the rock fortress
of the Buli of Gatoka。
〃Forgive them； for they know not what they do；〃 he prayed。 〃O Lord！
Have mercy upon Fiji。 Have compasssion for Fiji。 O Jehovah； hear us for
His sake； Thy Son； whom Thou didst give that through Him all men might
also become Thy children。 From Thee we came； and our mind is that to
Thee we may return。 The land is dark； O Lord； the land is dark。 But Thou
art mighty to save。 Reach out Thy hand； O Lord； and save Fiji； poor
cannibal Fiji。〃
The Buli grew impatient。