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 steamer and a low-down, sneak-thief Kanaka."

Then, as the canoes dropped behind, he waved his hand to their occupants, afterwards taking his place on the bridge to conduct the delicate operation of navigating his way through a mass of jagged rocks and cross currents.

This was almost the only occasion, however, on which the Manihiki encountered trouble with the natives. As a rule they had learned by experience that it paid best to come to some understanding and stick to it. There was probably a good deal of squabbling among themselves, after the steamer had left, on the question of a fair division of the spoil, but that was not Captain Peters's affair.

On the whole, the cruise promised to be a very satisfactory one, and the Manihiki was favored with ideal weather week after week, running under azure skies on an ocean that looked as though it must have been painted.