Now when Katafa led Le Moan away into the shelter of the trees, Le Moan, with the kiss of Katafa warm upon her forehead, knew nothing, nothing of the fact that Katafa was Taori’s, the dream and treasure of his life, beside whom all other living things were shadows.  
And Katafa knew nothing, nothing of the fact that Taori was Le Moan’s—was Le Moan; for Le Moan had so dreamed him into herself that the vision of him had become part of herself inseparable for ever.
 
Ringed and ringed with ignorance, ignorance of their own race, and the affinity¹ between them, of the fact that they and Taori formed amongst the people of Karolin a little colony alien in blood and soul, of the fact that Taori was their common desire, they went between the trees, Katafa leading the way towards the house of Uta Matu, above which Nan on his pole still grinned towards the schooner², grinned without nodding, maybe because the wind that had moved him had ceased.
 
Katafa, taking the sleeping mat used by her and Taori, spread it on the floor of the house, then she offered food, but Le Moan refused, she only wanted sleep. For nights she had not slept and the kiss that Katafa again pressed upon her brow seemed to her the kiss of a phantom³ in a dream as she sank down and died to the world on the bed of the lover who knew nothing of her love.
 
It was still morning.
 
Outside in the blazing sun the people of Karolin went about their business, mending the wall of the house that had been broken, preparing food for the newcomers, rejoicing in the new life that had come back to them. Whilst in the lagoon⁴ the anchored schooner swung to her moorings, deserted⁵ and without sign of life, for Dick had decided⁶ that no one should board her till he and Aioma led the way, that is till the morrow, for there were many things to be attended to first.
 
Le Moan had brought him not only a ship, but six full-grown men, a priceless gift if the men were to be trusted.
 
Aioma, who had held off from the business of fraternizing, watching the newcomers with a critical eye, believed that they were good men. “But wait,” said Aioma, “till they are fed, till they have rested and slept amongst us; a good-looking coconut⁷ is sometimes rotten at the core, but these I believe to be good men even as Le Moan has said; but to-night will tell.”
 
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