As they drew near the shore, one big canoe shot suddenly a length or so ahead of the rest; and its leader, standing on the grotesque carved figure that adorned its prow, held up both his hands open and empty before him, in sign of peace, while at the same time he shouted out a word or two three times in his own language, to reassure the castaways.
Felix's eye glanced cautiously from boat to boat.

"He says, 'We are friends,'" the young man remarked in an undertone to his terrified companion.

"I can understand his dialect.

Thank Heaven, it's very close to Fijian.

I shall be able at least to palaver to these men.