Page:Biagi - The Centaurians.djvu/127

 They are a grand, god-like race, having reached the zenith of perfect civilization, yet still possess one uncontrollable passion—an irreverent desire for knowledge. They would ride the heavens, visit the moon and stars, yet dare not explore the other side of their own little planet.

"Oh, Centauri! Centauri!" roared Potolili derisively; "four men, their own color, yet still in the savage state" (he laughed), "have accomplished what Centauri is still dreaming of. But the superiority of a superb people will acknowledge and praise your daring. A true savage, jealous, doubts and jeers. I worship the Centaurians; the men are gods, the women—ah!" he clasped his hands, sighing voluptuously, "the women are divine!"

Fourteen hours later we parted from Potolili.

"You are entering the Octrogona domain," he told us. "I am sad at parting, but we shall meet again. Good luck."

We could not let him or his men depart without some little token of our esteem; this regard deeply affected them.

Saxe. presented a canoe to Potolili. He was delighted with the gift. The canoes had attracted his attention above everything else in the car, he had never seen one before. I created a sensation by distributing money. Potolili informed me the museum contained many of these rare, valuable coins. Saxe. cautioned me to preserve my gold, and he became very stingy with his beads. Potolili had curiously examined Saxe.'s collection of beads, but preferred the canoe because it could not be