This happened just a week ago; an' Tararo says that if she's not ready to go, when the chief returns, as his bride, she'll be sent to him as a _long pig_." "As a long pig!" I exclaimed in surprise; "why what does he mean by that ?" "He means somethin' very unpleasant," answered Bill with a frown.

"You see these blackguards eat men an' women just as readily as they eat pigs; and, as baked pigs and baked men are very like each other in appearance, they call men _long_ pigs.

If Avatea goes to this fellow as a long pig, it's all up with her, poor thing." "Is she on the island now ?" I asked eagerly.
"No, she's at Tararo's island." "And where does it lie ?" "About fifty or sixty miles to the south'ard o' this," returned Bill; "but I--" At this moment we were startled by the cry of "Mao! mao!--a shark! a shark!" which was immediately followed by a shriek that rang clear and fearfully loud above the tumult of cries that arose from the savages in the water and on the land.

We turned hastily towards the direction whence the cry came, and had just time to observe the glaring eye-balls of one of the swimmers as he tossed his arms in the air.

Next instant he was pulled under the waves.