The sweet nymphs, who had sported with me before on the lake, now all fled its vicinity.
The prohibited craft, guarded by the edicts of the 'taboo,' extended the prohibition to the waters in which it lay.
For a few days, Kory-Kory, with one or two other youths, accompanied me in my excursions to the lake, and while I paddled about in my light canoe, would swim after me shouting and gambolling in pursuit.

But I as ever partial to what is termed in the 'Young Men's Own Book'-- 'the society of virtuous and intelligent young ladies;' and in the absence of the mermaids, the amusement became dull and insipid.

One morning I expressed to my faithful servitor my desire for the return of the nymphs.

The honest fellow looked at me bewildered for a moment, and then shook his head solemnly, and murmured 'taboo! taboo!' giving me to understand that unless the canoe was removed I could not expect to have the young ladies back again.

But to this procedure I was averse; I not only wanted the canoe to stay where it was, but I wanted the beauteous Fayaway to get into it, and paddle with me about the lake.