But Mali went to the door and beckoned carelessly to one of the native girls just outside, who drew near the line at the summons, with a somewhat frightened air, putting one finger to her mouth in coyly uncertain savage fashion.
"Fetch me water from the spring!" Mali said, authoritatively, in Polynesian.

Without a moment's delay the girl darted off at the top of her speed, and soon returned with a large calabash full of fresh cool water, which she lay down respectfully by the taboo line, not daring to cross it.
"Why didn't you get it yourself ?" Muriel asked of her Shadow, rather relieved than otherwise that Mali hadn't left her.

It was something in these dire straits to have somebody always near who could at least speak a little English.
Mali started back in surprise.

"Oh, that would never do," she answered, catching a colloquial phrase she had often heard long before in Queensland.

"Me missy's Shadow.