And then--none but Boupari men will know the secret." As he spoke he darted a strange glance of hatred toward the unconscious bird, the innocent repository, as he firmly believed, of the secret that doomed him.

The Frenchman had turned his back for a moment now, to fetch out a stool.

Tu-Kila-Kila, casting a quick, suspicious eye to the right and left, took a step nearer.

The parrot sat mumbling on its perch, inarticulately, putting its head on one side, and blinking its half-blinded eyes in the bright tropical sunshine.

Tu-Kila-Kila paused irresolute before its face for a second.