Page:An account of the natives of the Tonga Islands.djvu/201

Rh " my superior chief-he is king of these islands. and I pay him tribute as a servant; if he has " any reason to be dissatisfied with my conduct, " my life is at his disposal, and he is welcome " to take it, for it is better to die than to live " innocent and yet be thought capable of treachery; — besides, I will not arm myself " against a power to which, as long as the " country is well governed, it is my duty to " submit."

This brave chief was still at Lefooga with all his army, in daily expectation of receiving orders from the king for their return to Vavaoo. Toobó Tóa thought the opportunity too advantageous to be lost: he did not approve of the advice of Finow, to wait yet a little longer. What opportunity, he thought, could be better than the present, while Toobó Nuha was still on the same island with him, and the king seemed disposed to favour his views? He had harboured sentiments of revenge so long within his breast, and the fitness of the occasion so spurred his resolution, that every day's delay appeared in his imagination the loss of an age. Finow's feeling upon the subject was supposed not to be very far remote from that of Toobó Tóa; but as he saw very clearly that this chiefs determination was fully bent upon his purpose, and required no encouragement from