_Pleni_ means "friend," and has a peculiar sentimental significance in the South Seas, and after this announcement Tari waited upon Jack like a slave. This behaviour seemed to impress the cowpuncher greatly, and about the third day on board he commented on it to the rolling-stone. "That 'ere Tari, whom you-alls say by his tattooing is a big chief, behaves as if he's your nigger, Jack, an' he shore hungers to please you. You sartinly has his affections roped, tied down, an' with your brand on to 'em that-away. I watches him eyein' you with them big antelope orbs o' his same as if you're some kind o' god, an' it's plumb touchin' as a spectacle." "That's the custom, Broncho, in the South Seas. The natives are like affectionate dogs, and when a man announces that he is your _pleni_ it means that from then on you are his first consideration in this world," replied Jack. "It's a far, far stronger affection than that which lovers hold to one another in the Society and Marquesas groups, passionate though they are." "Wall, I reckon a pagan Kanaka shore calls the turn that-away on redskins. Tari's a different breed entire to them yellow snakes. I ain't never seen the redskin's eye I'd trust, but Tari's I'd jest as soon stack upon as any white man's." "How do you like the _Ocmulgee's_ tobacco?" asked Jack, as he lit his pipe behind his hands. "For smokin' it'll about run in double harness with tea, which same is puttin' it some mild; but for chewin' it makes me as peevish as a sick infant, it's that rank, an' shore gives a gent a ja'ndiced view of life." During this conversation they were seated round the cabin skylight in the first dog-watch. Suddenly Lobu, who as usual was engaged in mysterious confidence with his black baby-god, sprang to his feet, and with a wild cry seized Tari's harpoon, which was resting up against the fife-rail; then, before any one of them could make a move, he had the weapon poised for a terrific lunge at Jack. Like a wild thing, Jim, who was steering, flung himself in front of his hero. At the same moment, Tari, making a wonderful shot with a belaying-pin, which he had snatched from the rail, dashed the harpoon to the deck, and before the infuriated madman could pick up his weapon, all hands had scattered for safety. "He's running amuck! Look out for yourselves!" roared Jack, as he dodged round the companion. Broncho made a break for the tryworks, whilst Jim, springing on to the main fife-rail, went hand-over-hand up the port lower-topsail sheet. Foaming at the mouth and jerking forth queer, wild guttural cries, Lobu, with weapon raised on high, hurled himself round the companion after Jack; but the fleet-footed Britisher was too quick for him. Foiled here, he suddenly turned and launched his weapon at Jim, who was swarming up the purchase with the agility of a monkey. Nothing but a sharp roll of the ship saved the boy, and the harpoon stuck quivering in the mainmast.