The king's eye sparkled greedily as he looked at the treasures.
"The white men must be very rich," he said, pointing to the pile
of baggage.
"Most of the boxes are empty," Mr. Goodenough said. "We have brought
them to take home the things of the country and show them to the
white men beyond the sea;" and to prove the truth of his words, Mr.
Goodenough had two of the empty cases opened, as also one already
half filled with bird skins, and another with trays of butterflies
and beetles.
The king looked at them with surprise.
"And the others?" he asked, pointing to them.
"The others," Mr. Goodenough said, "contain, some of them, food
such as white men are accustomed to eat in their own country, the
others, presents for the other kings and chiefs I shall meet when
we have passed on.
"The fellow is not satisfied," he said to Ostik, "give him two of
the trade guns and a bottle of brandy."
The king appeared mollified by these additional presents, and saying
that he would talk to the white men in the morning, he retired into
the village.
"I don't like the looks of things," Mr. Goodenough said. "I fear
that the presents we have given the king will only stimulate his
desire for more.
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