"A pearl?" cried Pharaoh, snatching it; "then this proves his guilt. Tera said to-day in court that she gave a pearl to Zara in exchange for her dress. I believe Slade killed Zara and took this pearl from her dead body!" CHAPTER XVIII RACHEL While these things were taking place in Mr. Johnson's study, Tera, with Tolai in attendance, returned to Farmer Carwell's. As she had promised her guardian to accept his statement as sufficient for the moment, she made no attempt to question Tolai. The conversation was quite impersonal, and dealt generally with island matters. There were friends and relatives to be inquired after: all sorts of things to ask about--the new banana plantations, for instance; if the old priest of Lomangatini was still alive; and what sort of goods Buli was getting from the traders in return for his copra. To all these Tolai replied in the native tongue. In this grey island of the west, these dusky children of the underworld delighted to talk of their tropical home. The girl was sick with nostalgia. When again would she see the shining spaces of the blue seas, the curve of the white beaches, the lines of brown thatched houses, and the palms bending their graceful heads as the trade-winds hummed in the vault of heaven? Jack and she were going home--yes, to their true home--as soon as he could get the wherewithal from his uncle. But already he had made known to her the difficulty there was in obtaining it; and Tera resolved that if he failed, she would try what her blandishments would do. She was sick with the yearning to fly south to the lands of eternal summer, and it was not by mere want of money she was going to be prevented if she could help it. "Are you a Christian, Tolai?" asked the girl, as they reached the brow of the hill above Grimleigh: she spoke in their own tongue. "Yes, I am a Christian. Misi Brand he taught me to pray good." "Misi Brand is in this town. Have you seen him?" "No. I wish to see him, too. Viara likes that Misi; she asked me to speak to him about coming back to Koiau." At this moment Tera raised her eyes, to see a tall black figure trudging towards them in the dust. It was mere coincidence that the figure proved to be that of the very man they were speaking of. She uttered an exclamation of surprise, and this attracted the attention of Korah, who was walking with bent head. As soon as he recognized Tera, he came swooping down like a crow, and held his arms wide as though to embrace her. "My child! my sister!" he cried in English. "I heard of your wondrous resurrection from the dead. I have just been in quest of you at Farmer Car----" Here his eyes fell on the Polynesian. "Tolai!" he cried, with a sudden note of fear in his voice; "it cannot be Tolai!" "Yes. He comes from Viara," said Tera; "but speak to him in our own tongue, Misi. He knows little English." "Tolai," repeated Brand, talking native, "what brings you here, Tolai?"