Byterroryoumaydrivemenlong，butnotfar。Here，inApemama，theyworkattheconstantandtheinstantperiloftheirlives；andareplungedinakindoflethargyoflaziness。Itiscommontoseeonegoafieldinhisstiffmatungirt，sothathewalkselbows-inlikeatrussedfowl；andwhatsoeverhisrighthandfindethtodo，theothermustbeoffdutyholdingonhisclothes。Itiscommontoseetwomencarryingbetweenthemonapoleasinglebucketofwater。Tomaketwobitesofacherryisgoodenough：tomaketwoburthensofasoldier’skit，foradistanceofperhapshalfafurlong，passesmeasure。Woman，beingthelesschildishanimal，islessrelaxedbyservileconditions。Evenintheking’sabsence，evenwhentheywerealone，IhaveseenApemamawomenworkwithconstancy。Buttheoutsidetobehopedforinamanisthathemayattackhistaskinlittlelanguidfits，andloungebetween-whiles。
　　SoIhaveseenapainter，withhispipegoing，andafriendbythestudiofireside。Youmightsupposetheracetolackcivility，evenvitality，untilyousawtheminthedance。Nightafternight，andsometimesdayafterday，theyrolledouttheirchorusesinthegreatSpeakHouse-solemnandantesandadagios，ledbytheclappedhand，anddeliveredwithanenergythatshooktheroof。Thetimewasnotsoslow，thoughitwasslowfortheislands；butIhavechosenrathertoindicatetheeffectuponthehearer。Theirmusichadachurch-likecharacterfromnearathand，andseemedtoEuropeanearsmoreregularthantherunofislandmusic。TwiceI
　　haveheardadiscordregularlysolved。Fromfartheroff，heardatEquatorTownforinstance，themeasuresroseandfellandcrepitatedlikethebarkingofhoundsinadistantkennel。
　　Theslavesarecertainlynotoverworked-childrenoftendomorewithoutfatigue-andtheApemamalabourershaveholidays，whenthesingingbeginsearlyintheafternoon。Thedietishard；copraandasweetmeatofpoundedpandanusaretheonlydishesIobservedoutsidethepalace；butthereseemsnodefectinquantity，andthekingshareswiththemhisturtles。ThreecameinaboatfromKuriaduringourstay；onewaskeptforthepalace，onesenttous，onepresentedtothevillage。Itisthehabitoftheislanderstocooktheturtleinitscarapace；wehadbeenpromisedtheshells，andweaskedatapuonthisfoolishpractice。ThefaceofTembinok’
　　darkenedandheanswerednothing。HesitationinthequestionofthewellIcouldunderstand，forwaterisscarceonalowisland；
　　thatheshouldrefusetointerfereuponapointofcookerywasmorethanIhaddreamedof；andIgatheredrightlyorwronglythathewasscrupulousoftouchingintheleastdegreetheprivatelifeandhabitsofhisslaves。Sothatevenhere，infulldespotism，publicopinionhasweight；evenhere，inthemidstofslavery，freedomhasacorner。
　　Orderly，sober，andinnocent，lifeflowsintheislefromdaytodayasinamodelplantationunderamodelplanter。Itisimpossibletodoubtthebeneficenceofthatsternrule。Acuriouspoliteness，asoftandgraciousmanner，somethingeffeminateandcourtly，distinguishestheislandersofApemama；itistalkedofbyallthetraders，itwasfeltevenbyresidentssolittlebelovedasourselves，andnoticeableeveninthecook，andeveninthatscoundrel’shoursofinsolence。Theking，withhismanlyandplainbearing，stoodoutalone；youmightsayhewastheonlyGilbertIslanderinApemama。Violence，socommoninButaritari，seemsunknown。Soaretheftanddrunkenness。Iamassuredtheexperimenthasbeenmadeofleavingsovereignsonthebeachbeforethevillage；theylaythereuntouched。InallourtimeontheislandIwasbutonceaskedfordrink。Thiswasbyamightyplausiblefellow，wearingEuropeanclothesandspeakingexcellentEnglish-Tamaitihisname，or，asthewhiteshavenowcorruptedit，’TomWhite’：oneoftheking’ssupercargoesatthreepoundsamonthandapercentage，amedicalmanbesides，andinhisprivatehoursawizard。Hefoundmeonedayintheoutskirtsofthevillage，inasecludedplace，hotandprivate，wherethetaro-pitsaredeepandtheplantshigh。Herehebuttonholedme，and，lookingabouthimlikeaconspirator，inquiredifIhadgin。
　　ItoldhimIhad。Heremarkedthatginwasforbidden，laudedtheprohibitionawhile，andthenwentontoexplainthathewasadoctor，or’dogstar’ashepronouncedtheword，thatginwasnecessarytohimforhismedicalinfusions，thathewasquiteoutofit，andthathewouldbeobligedtomeforsomeinabottle。I
　　toldhimIhadpassedthekingmywordonlanding；butsincehiscasewassoexceptional，Iwouldgodowntothepalaceatonce，andhadnodoubtthatTembinok’wouldsetmefree。TomWhitewasimmediatelyoverwhelmedwithembarrassmentandterror，besoughtmeinthemostmovingtermsnottobetrayhim，andfledmyneighbourhood。Hehadnoneofthecook’svalour；itwasweeksbeforehedaredtomeetmyeye；andthenonlybytheorderofthekingandonparticularbusiness。
　　ThemoreIviewedandadmiredthistriumphoffirmrule，themoreI
　　washauntedandtroubledbyaproblem，theproblemperhapsofto-
　　morrowforourselves。Herewasapeopleprotectedfromallseriousmisfortune，relievedofallseriousanxieties，anddeprivedofwhatwecallourliberty。Didtheylikeit?andwhatwastheirsentimenttowardtheruler?ThefirstquestionIcouldnotofcourseask，norperhapsthenativesanswer。Eventhesecondwasdelicate；yetatlast，andundercharmingandstrangecircumstances，Ifoundmyopportunitytoputitandamantoreply。
　　Itwasnearthefullofthemoon，withadeliciousbreeze；theislewasbrightasday-tosleepwouldhavebeensacrilege；andI
　　walkedinthebush，playingmypipe。ItmusthavebeenthesoundofwhatIampleasedtocallmymusicthatattractedinmydirectionanotherwandererofthenight。Thiswasayoungmanattiredinafinemat，andwithagarlandonhishair，forhewasnewcomefromdancingandsinginginthepublichall；andhisbody，hisface，andhiseyeswereallofanenchantingbeauty。EveryhereandthereintheGilbertsyouthsaretobefoundofthisabsurdperfection；IhaveseenfiveofuspasshalfanhourinadmirationofaboyatMariki；andTeKopmyfriendinthefinematandgarlandIhadalreadyseveraltimesremarked，andlongagosetdownastheloveliestanimalinApemama。Thephiltreofadmirationmustbeverystrong，orthesenativesspeciallysusceptibletoitseffects，forIhavescarceeveradmiredapersonintheislandsbutwhathehassoughtmyparticularacquaintance。
　　SoitwaswithTeKop。Heledmetotheoceanside；andforanhourortwowesatsmokingandtalkingontheresplendentsandandundertheineffablebrightnessofthemoon。Myfriendshowedhimselfverysensibleofthebeautyandamenityofthehour。’Goodnight！Goodwind！’hekeptexclaiming，andashesaidthewordsheseemedtohugmyself。IhadlongbeforeinventedsuchreiteratedexpressionsofdelightforacharacterFelipe，inthestoryofOLALLAintendedtobepartlybestial。ButtherewasnothingbestialinTeKop；onlyachildishpleasureinthemoment。Hewasnolesspleasedwithhiscompanion，orwasgoodenoughtosayso；
　　honouredme，beforeheleft，bycallingmeTeKop；apostrophisedmeas’Myname！’withanintonationexquisitelytender，layinghishandatthesametimeswiftlyonmyknee；andafterwehadrisen，andourpathsbegantoseparateinthebush，twicecriedtomewithasortofgentleecstasy，’Ilikeyoutoomuch！’Fromthebeginninghehadmadenosecretofhisterroroftheking；wouldnotsitdownnorspeakaboveawhispertillhehadputthewholebreadthoftheislebetweenhimselfandhismonarch，thenharmlesslyasleep；andeventhere，evenwithinastone-castoftheoutersea，ourtalkcoveredbythesoundofthesurfandtherattleofthewindamongthepalms，continuedtospeakguardedly，softeninghissilvervoicewhichrangloudenoughinthechorus
　　andlookingabouthimlikeamaninfearofspies。ThestrangethingisthatIshouldhavebeheldhimnomore。InanyotherislandinthewholeSouthSeas，ifIhadadvancedhalfasfarwithanynative，hewouldhavebeenatmydoornextmorning，bringingandexpectinggifts。ButTeKopvanishedinthebushforever。Myhouse，ofcourse，wasunapproachable；butheknewwheretofindmeontheoceanbeach，whereIwentdaily。IwastheKAUPOI，therichman；mytobaccoandtradewereknowntobeendless：hewassureofapresent。Iamatalosshowtoexplainhisbehaviour，unlessitbesupposedthatherecalledwithterrorandregretapassageinourinterview。Hereitis：
　　’Theking，hegoodman?’Iasked。
　　’Supposehelikeyou，hegoodman，’repliedTeKop：’nolike，nogood。’
　　Thatisonewayofputtingit，ofcourse。TeKophimselfwasprobablynofavourite，forhescarceappealedtomyjudgmentasatypeofindustry。Andtheremustbemanyotherswhomthekingtoadheretotheformuladoesnotlike。Dotheseunfortunatesliketheking?Orisnotrathertherepulsionmutual?andtheconscientiousTembinok’，liketheconscientiousBraxfieldbeforehim，andmanyotherconscientiousrulersandjudgesbeforeeither，surroundedbyaconsiderablebodyof’grumbletonians’?Takethecook，forinstance，whenhepassedusby，bluewithrageandterror。Hewasverywrothwithme；Ithinkbyalltheoldprinciplesofhumannaturehewasnotverywellpleasedwithhissovereign。Itwastherichmanhesoughttowaylay：Ithinkitmusthavebeenbytheturnofahairthatitwasnotthekinghewaylaidinstead。Andthekinggives，orseemstogive，plentyofopportunities；dayandnighthegoesabroadalone，whetherarmedornotIcanbutguess；andthetaro-patches，wherehisbusinessmustsooftencarryhim，seemdesignedforassassination。Thecaseofthecookwasheavyindeedtomyconscience。Ididnotliketokillmyenemyatsecond-hand；buthadIarighttoconcealfromtheking，whohadtrustedme，thedangeroussecretcharacterofhisattendant?Andsupposethekingshouldfall，whatwouldbethefateoftheking’sfriends?Itwasouropinionatthetimethatweshouldpaydearfortheclosingofthewell；thatourbreathwasintheking’snostrils；thatifthekingshouldbyanychancebebludgeonedinataro-patch，thephilosophicalandmusicalinhabitantsofEquatorTownmightlayasidetheirpleasantinstruments，andbetakethemselvestowhatdefencetheyhad，withaverydimprospectofsuccess。ThesespeculationswereforceduponusbyanincidentwhichIamashamedtobetray。TheschoonerH。L。
　　HASELTINEsincecapsizedatsea，withthelossofelevenlives
　　putintoApemamainagoodhourforus，whohadnearexhaustedoursupplies。Theking，afterhishabit，spentdayafterdayonboard；
　　theginprovedunhappilytohistaste；hebroughtastoreofitashorewithhim；andforsometimethesoletyrantoftheislewashalf-seas-over。Hewasnotdrunk-themanisnotadrunkard，hehasalwaysstoresofliquorathand，whichheuseswithmoderation，-buthewasmuzzy，dull，andconfused。Hecameonedaytolunchwithus，andwhiletheclothwasbeinglaidfellasleepinhischair。Hisconfusion，whenheawokeandfoundhehadbeendetected，wasequalledbyouruneasiness。Whenhewasgonewesatandspokeofhisperil，whichwethoughttobeinsomedegreeourown；ofhoweasilythemanmightbesurprisedinsuchastatebyGRUMBLETONIANS；ofthestrangescenesthatwouldfollow-theroyaltreasuresandstoresatthemercyoftherabble，thepalaceoverrun，thegarrisonofwomenturnedadrift。Andaswetalkedwewerestartledbyagun-shotandasudden，barbaricoutcry。I
　　believeweallchangedcolour；butitwasonlythekingfiringatadogandthechorusstrikingupintheSpeakHouse。AdayortwolaterIlearnedthekingwasverysick；wentdown，diagnosedthecase；andtookatoncethehighestmedicaldegreebytheexhibitionofbicarbonateofsoda。WithinthehourRichardwashimselfagain；
　　andIfoundhimattheunfinishedhouse，enjoyingthedoublepleasureofdirectingRubamandmakingadinnerofcocoa-nutdumplings，andalleagernesstohavetheformulaofthisnewsortofPAIN-KILLER-forPAIN-KILLERintheislandsisthegenericnameofmedicine。Soendedtheking’smodestspreeandouranxiety。
　　Onthefaceofthings，Ioughttosay，loyaltyappearedunshaken。
　　Whentheschooneratlastreturnedforus，aftermuchexperienceofbafflingwinds，shebroughtarumourthatTebureimoahaddeclaredwaronApemama。Tembinok’becameanewman；hisfaceradiant；hisattitude，asIsawhimpresideoveracouncilofchiefsinoneofthepalacemaniap’s，eagerasaboy’s；hisvoicesoundingabroad，shrillandjubilant，overhalfthecompound。Wariswhathewants，andherewashischance。TheEnglishcaptain，whenheflunghisarmsinthelagoon，hadforbiddenhimexceptinonecaseallmilitaryadventuresinthefuture：herewasthecasearrived。Allmorningthecouncilsat；menweredrilled，armswerebought，thesoundoffiringdisturbedtheafternoon；thekingdevisedandcommunicatedtomehisplanofcampaign，whichwashighlyelaborateandingenious，butperhapsatriflefine-spunfortheroughandrandomvicissitudesofwar。Andinallthisbustlethetemperofthepeopleappearedexcellent，anunwontedanimationineveryface，andevenUncleParkerburningwithmilitaryzeal。
　　Ofcourseitwasafalsealarm。Tebureimoahadotherfishtofry。