CHAPTER XXVI
THE PEARL OF TAO TAO
NEVER had Tao Tao looked more perfect than in the golden dawn when, for the last time, Chester rang the great gong on the veranda, to assemble the blacks for their journey over to their new employers on the island of Tamba. The sun had barely made its appearance before the labourers were stowed, a solid mass of chattering humanity, on the deck of the Kestrel. The sea was by now almost calm again, and before a spanking breeze the ketch glided out over the blue water. Only Maromi and Peter Pan remained behind, to assist Keith and the girl in the removal of cases and bundles to the beach, ready for storing on the Kestrel when she returned. Chester had promised to be back before noon, and by the time the white sails of the vessel became visible again everything that was intended for the Kestrel had been piled on the beach.
"She's coming along like a race horse. Another hour and she will be here," said Joan, allowing her eyes to linger on familiar scenes for the last time.
Keith was squatting on the sand, cutting at a
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