CHAPTER XII
"MY LORDS OF THE ADMIRALTY"
In October I received another letter from the Captain, asking me to meet him in Chabral harbour. He had become so tired of waiting for a ship that he had decided to start in a boat for Mille". He had effected a reconciliation with the king, and was paying him a friendly visit. He meant to arrange with him regarding the people and the manage- ment of the station at Utwe* during his absence.
I left Mout at daylight, and, as I said good-bye to Tulpe* and the little daughter, how little I thought that I should never cross their hospitable threshold again!
Kusis came with me, and we took the route by the weather side of the island, reaching Lele" in the afternoon. On my way to the king's house we came across a number of women catching shrimps in the rivulet that runs into Chabral harbour, and among them were Kitty of Ebon and Lalia.
These two called to us to stop, as they had news for me. Coming out of the water, they threw off their wet clothes and put on dry ones. Then the four of us sat down on a low coral wall under the shade of some trees.
Kitty of Ebon began the conversation by saying that the Captain had arrived the night before, and had a long talk with the king, whom he told that he was going to try and reach Mille in the largest of the ship's boats, though he would have to contend against the north-east trades the
