Then, suddenly, the old chief surprised them all by proposing a bargain. If the white men would leave their grandmother--Aunt Jannet Harvey to wit--as pledge of their honourable intentions, both he and Kahili his son would go in the big ship, and when they returned safe and sound the ship could take the grandmother away. Blair laughed so much over the old fellow's 'cuteness that he came near to dispelling their suspicions. And the matter being explained to Aunt Jannet, without undue insistence upon the maturity of her new dignity, that good lady, with a somewhat forlorn attempt at nonchalance, accepted the offer on the spot, and said she would stop. And what it cost her no man may venture to say, for she had been looking forward to the christening of Jean's boy as a white stone day in her life. "It's for the good of the work, Kenneth, so get away with them before I change my mind," said she, bravely enough. "Oh, Aunt Jannet, I shall miss you so," from Jean, with a suspicion of tears in her voice. "Not a bit, child. You'll have far too much to think of, and I'll be perfectly all right here." "But--you----" for Jean knew all her longing in the matter. "I'll chum up with Mrs. Maru, and we'll be as happy as--h'm"--with a glance at the native houses among the trees--"well, as things in a rug, you know. You shall tell me all about it when I get back. Don't let Ken forget to send for me." She kissed the babies as though she knew in her own mind that she would never set eyes on them again, waved her adieus gallantly from the white shell beach, and when the _Torch_ had swept out of sight round the corner she went up into a thicket of lemon hibiscus, and had it out all by herself there. Then she preened her ruffled plumes, and went down and rated Mrs. Maru for the untidiness of her dwelling-place, till the old lady regretted more than ever the exchange she had made. By degrees, however, Aunt Jannet's natural goodness and masterfulness overcame her disappointment. The two became capital friends, and talked away at one another, on a twenty-five per cent. basis of understanding, which left the most extraordinary views of the other's life on each of their minds. Her self-sacrifice, however, bore excellent fruit. Old Maru and Kahili proved admirable bait for Blair's fishing. Persuaded themselves to a somewhat doubtful step, the step once taken they became most zealous partisans of their new cause. Assured, by the solid fact of Aunt Jannet's temporary residence on Kanele, of their own safety, they laughed to scorn the fears of others as doubtful in the matter as they themselves had originally been. Their assured confidence amounted well-nigh to boastfulness. "Look at us," they said, "we have no mistrust in going with the white men. Put away your fears, and come along." The _Torch_ made a most prosperous collection, and returned to Kapaa'a laden with dusky notables.