Bateman tightened his lips, but said nothing. In a moment the woman returned with a bundle, which she gave to Edward; and the two men, scrambling down a steep path, made their way to a grove of coconut trees on the beach. They undressed and Edward showed his friend how to make the strip of red trade cotton which is called a _pareo_ into a very neat pair of bathing-drawers. Soon they were splashing in the warm, shallow water. Edward was in great spirits. He laughed and shouted and sang. He might have been fifteen. Bateman had never seen him so gay, and afterwards when they lay on the beach, smoking cigarettes, in the limpid air, there was such an irresistible light-heartedness in him that Bateman was taken aback. "You seem to find life mighty pleasant," said he. "I do." They heard a soft movement and looking round saw that Arnold Jackson was coming towards them. "I thought I'd come down and fetch you two boys back," he said. "Did you enjoy your bath, Mr Hunter?" "Very much," said Bateman. Arnold Jackson, no longer in spruce ducks, wore nothing but a _pareo_ round his loins and walked barefoot. His body was deeply browned by the sun. With his long, curling white hair and his ascetic face he made a fantastic figure in the native dress, but he bore himself without a trace of self-consciousness. "If you're ready we'll go right up," said Jackson. "I'll just put on my clothes," said Bateman. "Why, Teddie, didn't you bring a _pareo_ for your friend?" "I guess he'd rather wear clothes," smiled Edward. "I certainly would," answered Bateman, grimly, as he saw Edward gird himself in the loincloth and stand ready to start before he himself had got his shirt on. "Won't you find it rough walking without your shoes?" he asked Edward. "It struck me the path was a trifle rocky." "Oh, I'm used to it." "It's a comfort to get into a _pareo_ when one gets back from town," said Jackson. "If you were going to stay here I should strongly recommend you to adopt it. It's one of the most sensible costumes I have ever come across. It's cool, convenient, and inexpensive." They walked up to the house, and Jackson took them into a large room with white-washed walls and an open ceiling in which a table was laid for dinner. Bateman noticed that it was set for five. "Eva, come and show yourself to Teddie's friend, and then shake us a cocktail," called Jackson. Then he led Bateman to a long low window. "Look at that," he said, with a dramatic gesture. "Look well."