King o' the Beach, a Tropic Tale, by George Manville Fenn. 

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This book was written just before the end of the century, when it wouldhave been expected that travel by steamer was pretty safe. Carey, ateenage boy making his way by steamer "Chusan" to meet his parents inAustralia, becomes very friendly with the ship's doctor, and also withone of the seamen, Bob Bostock. But somewhere out in the Indian Ocean hehas an accident, falling from the ship's rigging, and is unconscious andpossibly may not live. His telescope took the brunt of the fall. Butwhile he is lying unconscious, a great gale springs up, the vessel losespower, and is driven onto a coral-girt volcanic island. 

Some of the passengers and crew get away on the ship's boats, but Careyis not fit for the journey. The ship lies on the reef, but mostlyundamaged. The Doctor and Bostock remain with him. After they aresettling in, and Carey is recovering well, a "beachcomber", who reckonshe is king of these islands, makes his appearance with a retinue ofaborigines. He is quite a nasty piece of work. However one of theaborigines becomes friendly with Carey and the others. The beachcombershoots the doctor, but then fall down a stairway, breaking both legs. Since he can't get the doctor, he dies. At this moment Carey's fatherappears, as the other passengers had reached Australia, and contact hadbeen made. 

There are the usual tense moments with various saurians, and othernasties, but perhaps not such a high level of tension as is usual withthis author. A good easy read, nevertheless. NH

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KING O' THE BEACH, A TROPIC TALE, BY GEORGE MANVILE FENN. 

CHAPTER ONE. 

"Mind what you're doing! Come down directly, you young dog! Ah, Ithought as much. There, doctor: a job for you. "

It was on board the great steamer _Chusan_, outward bound from the portof London for Rockhampton, Moreton Bay, and Sydney, by the north route, with a heavy cargo of assorted goods such as are wanted in the far southColonies, and some fifty passengers, for the most part returning from avisit to the Old Country. 

"Visit" is a very elastic word--it may mean long or short. In CareyCranford's case it was expressed by the former, for it had lasted tenyears, during which he had been left by his father with one of hisuncles in London, so that he might have the full advantage of an Englisheducation before joining his parents in their adopted land. 

It had been a delightful voyage, with pleasant fellow-passengers andeverything new and exciting, to the strong, well-grown, healthy lad, whohad enjoyed the Mediterranean; revelled in the glowing heat of the RedSea, where he had begun to be the regular companion of the young doctorwho had charge of the passengers and crew; stared at that greatcinder-heap Aden, and later on sniffed at the sweet breezes fromCeylon's Isle. 

Here the captain good-humouredly repeated what he had said more thanonce during the voyage: "Now look out, young fellow; if you're not backin time I shall sail without you:" for wherever the great steamer put inthe boy hurried ashore with the doctor to see all he could of thecountry, and came back at the last minute growling at the stay being soshort. 

It was horrible, he said, when they touched at Colombo not to be able togo and see what the country was like. 

He repeated his words at Singapore; so did the captain, but with thisaddition:

"Only one more port to stop at, and then I shall have you off my hands. "

"But shan't we stop at Java or any of the beautiful islands?"

"Not if I can help it, my lad, " said the captain. "Beautiful islandsindeed! Only wish I could clear some of 'em off the map. "

So Carey Cranford, eager to see everything that was to be seen, had tocontent himself with telescopic views of the glorious isles scatteredalong the vessel's course, closing the glass again and again with anejaculation signifying his disgust. 

"Islands!" he said. "I believe, doctor, half of them are only clouds. I say, I wish the captain wouldn't go so fast. "

"Why?" said his companion, an eager-looking manly fellow of about twicethe speaker's age. 

"I should like to fish, and stop and explore some of the islands, andshoot, and collect curiosities. "

"And drive all the passengers mad with vexation because of the delay. "

"Oh! old people are so selfish, " said the lad, pettishly. 

"And the young ones are not, " said the young doctor, drily. 

The boy looked up sharply, coloured a little through the brown paintedby the sun on his skin, and then he laughed. 

"Well, it's all so new and fresh, " he said. "I should like to see astorm, though. One of those what do you call 'ems--tycoons--no, typhoons. "

"You're getting deeper into the mire, " said the doctor, smiling. "Carey--why, we ought to nickname you Don't-Care-y, to have such a wishas that. "

"Why? It would be a change. "

"A storm! Here, in this rock and shoal-dotted sea, with its dangerouscurrents and terrible reefs, where captains need all their skill topilot their vessels safe to port!"

"Never thought of that, " said the lad. "Let's see, what does the chartsay? New Guinea to the north, and home to the south. "

"Home if you like to call it so, " said the doctor; "but you've a long, long journey before you yet. "

"Yes, I know, through Torres Straits and Coral Sea and by the GreatBarrier Reef. I say, doctor, wouldn't it be jolly to be landedsomewhere to the south here and then walk across the country toBrisbane?"

"Very, " said the doctor, drily. "Suppose you'd take a few sandwiches toeat on the way?"

"There, you're joking me again, " said the boy. "I suppose it would bemany days' march. "

"Say months, then think a little and make it years. "

"Oh! nonsense, doctor!"

"Or more likely you'd never reach it. It would be next to impossible. "

"Why?" said Carey. 

"Want of supplies. The traveller would break down for want of food andwater. "

"Oh! very well, " cried the boy, merrily; "then we'll go by sea. "

It was the day following this conversation that Carey Cranford's energyfound vent, despite the heat, in a fresh way. 

The _Chusan_ was tearing along through the dazzlingly bright sea, churning up the water into foam with her propeller and leaving a cloudof smoke behind. The heat was tremendous, for there was a perfect calm, and the air raised by the passage of the steamer was as hot as if it hadcome from the mouth of a furnace. The passengers looked languid andsleepy as they lolled about finder the great awning, and the sailorscongratulated themselves that they were not Lascars stoking in theengine-room, Robert Bostock, generally known on board as Old Bob, havinggiven it as his opinion that it was "a stinger. " Then he chuckled, andsaid to the man nearest:

"Look at that there boy! He's a rum un, and no mistake. That's beingBritish, that is. You'd never see a Frenchy or a Jarman or a 'Talian upto games like that in the sun. "

"That there boy" was Carey Cranford, and he had taken the attention ofthe captain as well, who was standing under the awning in company withthe doctor, and the two chuckled. 

"There, doctor, " he said; "did you ever see so much of the monkey in aboy before? Wouldn't you think a chap might be content in the shade ona day like this? What's he doing--training for a sweep?"

A modern steamer does not offer the facilities for going aloft furnishedby a sailing ship, and her masts and yards are pretty well coated withsoot; but Carey Cranford, in his investigating spirit, had not paused toconsider that, for he had caught sight of what looked like a blue cloudlow down on the southern horizon. 

"One of the islands, " he said to himself. "Wonder what's its name. "

He did not stop to enquire, but went below, threw the strap of his largebinocular glass over his head, ascended to the deck again, and then, selecting the highest mast, well forward of the funnel, he made his wayas far aloft as he could, and stood in a very precarious positionscanning the distant cloud-like spot. 

The place he had selected to take his observation was on one of theyards, just where it crossed the mast, and if he had contented himselfwith a sitting position the accident would not have happened; but he hadmentally argued that the higher a person was the wider his opticalrange, so he must needs add the two feet or so extra gained by standinginstead of sitting. His left arm was round the mast, and both handswere steadying the glass as, intent upon the island, he carefully turnedthe focussing screw, when the steamer, rising to the long smooth swell, careened over slightly, and one of the boy's feet, consequent upon thesmoothness of his deck shoes, glided from beneath him, bringing forththe captain's warning cry and following words. 

For the next moment, in spite of a frantic clutch at the mast, the boywas falling headlong down, as if racing his glass, but vainly, for thisreached the deck first, the unfortunate lad's progress being checkedtwice by his coming in contact with wire stays, before head and shoulderstruck the deck with a sickening thud. 

CHAPTER TWO. 

The doctor was first by the injured lad's side, quickly followed by thecaptain and a score of passengers who had been roused to action by theaccident. 

"Keep everyone back, " cried the doctor, "and let's have air. "

The doctor was for the moment in command of the vessel, and the captainobeyed without a word, forming all who came up into a wide circle, andthen impatiently returning to the injured lad's side. 

"Well?" he panted, as he took off his gold-banded cap to wipe hisstreaming forehead. "Tell me what to do. "

"Nothing yet, " replied the doctor, who was breathing hard, but strivingto keep himself professionally cool. 

"Not dangerously hurt?" whispered the captain; but in the terriblesilence which had fallen his words were distinctly heard above thethrobbing of the vibrating engines, which seemed to make the greatvessel shudder at what had occurred. 

"I am not sure yet, " said the doctor gravely. 

"But the blood--the blood!" cried one of the lady passengers. 

"As far as I can make out at present the leather case of his glass hassaved his skull from fracture. He fell right upon it, but I fear thatthe collar-bone is broken, and I cannot say yet whether there isanything wrong with the spine. 

"No!" he said the next minute, for the sufferer stretched out his handsas if to clutch and save himself, and he moved his legs. 

There were plenty of willing hands ready to help, and a canvas stretcherwas drawn beneath the sufferer so that he could be carried carefullydown to one of the state cabins, which was immediately vacated for hisuse; and there for hours Doctor Kingsmead was calling into his serviceeverything that a long training could suggest; but apparently in vain, for his patient lay quite insensible in the sultry cabin, apparentlysinking slowly into the great ocean of eternity. 

And all the time the huge steamer tore on over the oily sea through agreat heat which rivalled that of the engine-room, and the captain andfirst and second mates held consultations twice over in connection withbarometer and chart, by the light of the swinging lamp below. 

The passengers supposed that those meetings concerned the injured boy, but the sailors, who had had experience, knew that there was somethingmore behind, and that evening after the sun had gone downs lookingcoppery and orange where a peculiar haze dimmed the west, one of thesailors who had gathered round where old Bostock was seated hazarded afew words to his senior. 

"Looks a strange deal like a storm, " he said. 

"Ay, it does, " said the old sailor; "and as I was saying, " he continued, passing his hand across his eyes, "it do seem strange how these thingscome about. Here's me more'n fifty, and about half wore out, andthere's this here young gent just beginning, as you may say, and cutdown like that. You lads mayn't believe it, but he kinder made me taketo him from the first, and I'd a deal rayther it was me cut down thanhim. "

"Ah, poor lad!" said one of the men, and there was a low murmur. 

"Look at that now, " continued the old sailor, passing his hand acrosshis eyes again, and then holding it out and looking at it curiously;"wet as wet! He aren't nothing to me, so I suppose I must be growingolder and softer than I thought I was. Nothing to me at all but apassenger, and here am I, mates, crying like a great gal. "

"There aren't naught to be 'shamed on, Bob Bostock, " said anothermiddle-aged man. "I know what you feels, mate, for I've got boys o' myown, and he's somebody's bairn. Got a father and mother waiting for himout in Brisbun. Ah! there'll be some wet eyes yonder when they come toknow. "

"Ay, there will, " came in chorus. 

"'Taren't that he's such a good-looking lad, nor so big nor strong. Idunno what it was, but everyone took to him from the first day he comeaboard. Never made himself too common nor free, but there he was, allusthe gen'leman with you--what you may call nice. "

"Reg'lar true-born Englishman, I say, " said another. 

"Nay, just aye like a young Scot, " said another. 

"Hark at that!" said another, looking round defiantly; "it's of Oirishdescent he is. Isn't his name Carey?"

"What!" cried another, angrily. "Carey--Carew. It's a Welsh nameinteet, and as old as the hills. "

"Never mind what he is--English or Scotch or Welsh. "

"Or Irish, " put in one of those who had spoken. 

"Or Irish, " said old Bostock; "he's as fine a lad as ever stepped, Isay, and I'd take it kindly if one of you would take my watch to-night, for I want to hang about ready to do anything the doctor may want in theway o' lifting or fetching water. It don't seem nat'ral to stand by andsee the stooard's mate doing things for the lad as he'd, ask me to do ifhe could speak. "

"Ah! he mostly come to you, Bob Bostock, when he wanted a bit o'fishing-line or anything o' that kind. "

"He did, " said the old sailor, "and glad I allus was to help him. Maybewe are going to have a blow to-night, and if it comes so much thebetter. It'll make it cooler for the poor lad, for it's hot enough now. Yes, we're in for a hurricane, my lads, as sure as we're at sea. "

He had hardly spoken the words when the first mate gave an order, theboatswain's whistle piped, and the men knew that their officers were ofthe same opinion as the old stagers among them. A storm was expected, and a bad one, in as bad a part of the world as could have been selectedfor the encounter. 

But no uneasiness was felt, for the _Chusan_ was a magnificent boat, with tackle of the finest description: all it would mean in such a boatso well commanded would be a tossing, with the decks drenched by thetumbling waves, for she was well commanded, the crew were in a capitalstate of discipline, as shown at once by the steady way in which theywent to work fulfilling the orders received, battening down hatches, extra lashing loose spare spars, seeing to the fastenings of the boats, and taking precautions against the water getting down into engine-roomor cabin, so that in a very short time everything was, as a sailor wouldsay, made snug, and there was nothing more that the most cautiouscaptain could have wished to see done to ensure the safety of themagnificent vessel in his charge. 

The passengers, who were still discussing the accident which hadbefallen the boy, and who had paid no heed to the peculiar look of thesky, the sea still heaving and sinking gently in an oily calm, now beganto notice the work going on, and the rumour soon spread among them thatthere was the possibility of a storm coming on. 

The result was that first one and then another began to hunt the captainto question him, but only to obtain short polite answers, that officerbeing too busy to gossip after the fashion wished. They fared worsewith the chief and second officers, who were quite short; and then oneof the most enterprising news-seekers on board captured old Bostock, literally button-holing him with the question:

"Do you think we are going to have a storm?"

"Don't think about it, sir. We shall have a buster before we're half anhour older. Going to blow great guns, so hold your hair on, sir. Can'tstop; going to hear how young Master Cranford's going on, sir. "

"Only a moment, my good friend, " said the gossip. "Do you think therewill be any danger?"

"Well, yes, sir, " said the old sailor, with his eyes twinkling, but hisface as hard as if it had been cut out of wood; "this here is rather abad place to be caught in a storm. You see, sir, the water's ratherdeep. "

The captain had not been one-half so busy before during the voyage, andhis eyes were everywhere, seeing that there was nothing left loose; buthe found time twice over to go below to where Doctor Kingsmead wasseated by his patient's cot watching anxiously for every change, thepoor lad evidently suffering keenly from the furnace-like heat. 

"How is he, Kingsmead?" asked the captain, anxiously. 

"Bad as he can be, " was the stern reply. 

"But can't you--Bah! absurd! you know your business better than I cantell you. Poor lad! How can I face his father when we get into port?It will be heart-breaking work. It is heart-breaking work, doctor, forthe young dog seemed to have a way of getting round your heart, and Icouldn't feel this accident more keenly if he were my own son. "

"Nor I, " said the doctor, "if he were my own brother. "

"God bless him, and bring him safely through it!" said the captain, softly, as he laid his hand gently on the boy's brow. "I'm glad hisface is not disfigured. "

"Yes, so am I, " said the doctor; "it does not tell tales of the terriblemischief that has been done. "

"What do you call it--concussion of the brain?"

"Yes, there is no fracture of the skull; only of his collar-bone, andthat is a trifle compared to the other. "

"You must bring him round, doctor. Troubles never come singly. "

"What, have you some other trouble on hand?" said the doctor, ratherimpatiently, for he wanted the captain to go and leave him alone withhis patient. 

"Yes, don't you know?"

"I know nothing but that I have that poor boy lying there to be savedfrom death if it be possible. Can't you have a wind-sail lowered downhere? The heat is intolerable. "

"Wind-sail? You'll have wind enough directly. We're going straightinto a typhoon, and no other course is open to me in this reef-strewnsea. "

"A storm?"

"Yes, and a bad one, I expect. It will be pitch-dark directly. "

"The fresh air will be welcome, " said the doctor, calmly. 

"Is the captain here?" said a voice at the state-room door--a voicespeaking in anxious tones. 

"Yes; what is it?" said the captain, quickly. "Come on deck, sir. It'srushing upon us like a great wall. Hear it?"

Doctor Kingsmead turned his face for a moment towards the door, to heara peculiar dull distant roar, different from any sound with which he wasfamiliar. Then the door swung to, and he was bending over his youngpatient again, thinking of nothing else, hearing no more for a fewmoments, till the door was pushed open again, and the rough, ruddybronze face of Bostock appeared in the full light of the swinging lamp. 

"Beg pardon, sir, " said the man, hoarsely. "Just going on dooty, andmayn't have another chance, as things looks bad. "

"What do you mean?" said the doctor, starting. 

"Just wanted to have one more look at the dear lad, sir. "

"But what do you mean by things looking bad?"

"Haven't you seen, sir? Well, you can hear. "

The doctor could hear, for at that moment something struck the vessel atremendous blow, which made her shiver, and then all was turmoil andconfusion as rain, wind, and spray swept the decks, and the steamercareened over and lay for a time upon her beam-ends. 

"Come down and tell me if the storm gets worse, " said the doctor, withhis lips to the man's ear. 

"Right, sir; but it can't be much worse till the sea gets up. It'sblown flat just now. "

The man gave a lingering look at the insensible boy, and then creptthrough the door, passing out quickly as if to keep some of the din fromentering the cabin. 

The doctor bent over his patient again, and then leaned forward tounscrew the fastening of the circular pane of glass which formed theport-hole. 

But he opened it only a few inches and then clapped it to and fastenedit again to keep out the rush of wind and spray which entered with awild shriek and rocked the lamp to and fro, threatening to put it out. 

He returned to his seat and watched, paying no heed whatever to theterrific roar of the storm nor the quivering of the great vessel, whichwas evidently being driven at great speed dead in the teeth of thestorm, though really making very little progress. 

And then hours went by, with the doctor as insensible to the progress ofthe terrific hurricane as the boy he watched. There were plenty ofpassengers below, but no one came near, and the two within thatdimly-lit cabin seemed to be the only living beings on board, soperfectly uninterrupted did they remain. 

This did not trouble the doctor in the least, for all he required was tobe left undisturbed with Nature, that she might have time to work hercure, for as far as he was concerned nothing could be done. 

He knew that a tremendous storm was raging, though there was so littlesea on that the motion of the vessel was not violent, for the simplereason that the tops of the waves were cut off by the terrific wind, which literally levelled the white waste of waters through which theytore. 

It must have been about midnight when the cabin door was opened again, and the old sailor crept in and close up to the doctor's side. 

"How is he, sir?" said the man, with his lips close to the doctor's ear. 

"Very, very bad, my man, " was the reply. 

"Poor dear lad!" growled the old sailor. "So we are up yonder, sir. "

"Oh!" said the doctor, quietly, but without taking his eyes from thepatient. 

"Engine's running at full speed to keep us head to wind. "

"Oh!" said the doctor, in the same low, uninterested tone. 

"Wust storm I was ever in, sir, and if it don't soon lull goodness knowswhat will happen next. "

"Indeed?" said the doctor. "But go now. Quietness is everything for mypatient now. "

"Well, I'm blest, " said the man to himself; "it's like talking to anyonein his sleep. Quietness, eh? Hang it! I didn't make half so muchnoise as the wind. He's thinking of that poor lad and of nothing else. "

It was so all through the night, the doctor hardly noticing therefreshments brought in by the white-faced steward, who tried to get upa conversation, but with very little success. "Terrible storm, sir. "

"Yes, " said the doctor. 

"Bad for poor young Mr Cranford, aren't it, sir?"

"Very bad. "

"Lot of the passengers ill, sir, and asking for you, sir. "

"Sea-sick?" said, the doctor, with a momentary display of interest. "Awful, sir. "

"I could do nothing for them, and I cannot leave my patient, " said thedoctor, slowly. 

The steward ventured upon another remark, but it was not heard. 

During the next few hours the captain sent down twice for news, but didnot once leave the deck, the storm raging with, if possible, greaterviolence; but the vessel fought bravely, backed as she was by theguidance of skilful hands, and evening was approaching, with everybodyon board growing worn out with anxiety or exertion. 

The night came on weird and strange, the white spray and the peculiarmilky phosphorescent surface of the sea relieving the darkness, butgiving in its place a terribly ghastly glare. 

It was about seven, for the doctor had just glanced at his watch to seeif it was time to repeat the medicine under whose influence he waskeeping his patient, when all at once there was a tremendous shock as ifthere had been an explosion, a crashing sound heard for the moment abovethe tempest's din, and then the doctor was conscious of a change, and heknew what it meant. The thrill and vibration of the screw had ceased, and that could only mean one thing, the falling off of the propeller orthe breaking of the shaft on which it turned. 

He had proof of this a few minutes later in the movement of the greatvessel, which no longer rode steadily over the swell, head to wind, butgradually fell off till she lay rolling in the hollows, careened over bythe pressure of the storm, and utterly unmanageable. 

There was a mingling of strange sounds now, as, following the motion ofthe vessel as she rolled heavily, everything below that was loose dashedfrom side to side of the cabins; but still the doctor paid no more heed. He retrimmed the lamp from time to time, and tried to retrim the lampof Carey Cranford's young life; but it seemed to be all in vain. 

Suddenly the door opened again, and this time it was not the steward'sface which appeared, but the old sailor's. 

"Any better, sir?" he said, hoarsely. 

"No; worse, " replied the doctor. 

"So it is on deck, sir, " whispered the man. "Main shaft broke shortoff, and propeller gone. They've been trying to hyste a bit o' sail soas to get steering way on, but everything's blew to rags. "

The doctor nodded shortly, and after a longing look at the young patientthe man went out on tiptoe. 

A couple of hours went by, with the vessel rocking horribly, and thenall at once there came a heavy grinding crash, and the rolling motionceased, the vessel for a few brief moments seemed at peace on an evenkeel, and the doctor uttered a sigh of relief, which had hardly passedhis lips before there was a noise like thunder, the side of the steamerhad received a heavy blow, and hundreds of tons of water poured downover her, sweeping the deck, and then retiring with a wild hissingnoise. 

Doctor Kingsmead was experienced sailor enough to know that the steamerhad been carried by the hurricane upon one of the terrible coral reefsof that dangerous sea, and he could foresee, as he believed, theresult--the billows would go on raising the vessel and letting her fallupon the sharp rocks till she broke up, unless the storm subsided andthe breakers abated in violence so that the passengers and crew mighttake to the boats. 

He knit his brow and sat thinking for a few minutes of the chances oflife and death at such a time, but became absorbed in the condition ofhis patient again, for there was his duty. There were the officers tosee to the preservation of life from the wreck. 

Once more he had warning of the state of affairs on deck, old Bostockhurrying down. 

"Got anything you want to save, sir?" he said, excitedly; "if so shoveit in your pocket. They're getting the boats out. I'll come and giveyou word, and help you with young squire here. "

"What!" said the doctor, excitedly now. "Impossible; it would meandeath for the boy to be moved. "

"It'll mean death, sir, if he aren't moved, " said the old sailor, sternly. "You button him up in a coat, and be ready against I come. "

The door banged to, and the doctor hurriedly caught up some of hispatient's garments and stood frowning, as he leaned over him, felt hispulse, and then laid his hand upon the poor lad's head. 

"Impossible, " he said; "it would crush out the flickering flame of life. He cannot be moved. "

As he spoke he threw the clothes aside and went sharply towards the doorand looked out, to see that the passengers were crowding up the cabinstairs in an awful silence, the horror of their position having broughtthem to a state of despairing calm. 

The doctor stood looking at them for a few moments, and then turned tocross to his patient's side, bending over him for a few moments, andthen sinking into the seat by his side. 

CHAPTER THREE. 

Meanwhile, after he had ineffectually tried everything possible to bringthe steamer's head to wind by means of the sails, the captain had togive up and let her drift, rolling heavily in the trough of the sea. 

The storm still raged with terrific fury, and it was evident that theunmanageable vessel was being borne rapidly along. 

But by slow degrees the violence of the wind began to abate, and freshefforts were made in the semi-darkness, and with the waves thunderingover the deck from time to time, to hoist something in the way of sail. 

The men raised a cheer as this was at last successfully accomplished, and once more obeying her helm the great vessel ceased rolling, andrushed on for a few hundred yards at headlong speed. 

But it was only to her fate, for rising high upon a huge billow she wasborne on for a short distance, and then there was the sudden check. Shehad struck on another of the terrible coral reefs, and was fast, offering an obstacle to the seething billows, at which they rushed, broke, and then fell over, deluging the deck, and tearing at everythingin their way. 

There seemed nothing more to be done but strive in the darkness to savelife, and captain and officers clung together and worked manfully. 

The minute after the vessel had struck on the reef there was a rush forthe boats, but the officers were prepared. Revolvers leaped out, andthree or four men were struck down, the captain setting the example. 

Then the fit of insubordination died out on the spot, and in perfectorder one of the boats was filled with women passengers and a crew, themoment was watched, and it was cast off and floated away on a huge wave, to be seen for a few moments, before it disappeared in the darkness. 

Boat after boat was successfully despatched in this way without a singlehitch, each receiving its crew commanded by one of the officers; and atlast the barge only was left for the remainder and the captain, the lastpassenger having gone in the boat despatched before--the last so far ascould be remembered in the hurry and confusion of the weird scene. 

There was ample room for all as the captain stood holding on while menhurriedly brought up and threw in bags of biscuit and such necessariesas could be obtained in the hurry, the barge lying in its chocks, lifting with every wave and ready to float out at the open side at anytime. 

"Now then, " cried the captain, in a voice hoarse from continuousshouting, "you, Bostock, down below with you and help the doctor bringup the young passenger. "

"Ay, ay, sir, " cried the old sailor, and he waited a moment to avoid thewater and then made a rush for the saloon cabin. 

The next minute he was down below. 

"Now, sir, quick, " he said; "boat's just off. What! not ready?"

"It is impossible to move him, my man, " said the doctor in sombre tones. 

"It's murder to keep him here, sir, " cried the old sailor. "Come on--for your life!"

As he spoke he caught Carey in his arms before the doctor couldinterfere, dashed open the door, and quickly carried the insensible ladup to the sea-washed deck, to stand aghast and then hold on for hislife. 

For something white and ghastly, fringed with phosphorescent light, seemed to rise over the ship's side, curve down over, glide under thebarge lying in its chocks, and then lift the laden boat away over theopen side. 

It was seen for a few moments and then disappeared, going in one swiftglide away into the darkness, leaving the doctor, his patient, and theold sailor amidst the hissing waters alone upon the deck. 

CHAPTER FOUR. 

"Here's another coming, " roared Bostock, hoarsely. "Back into shelter, or we shall be swept away. "

He set the example, still bearing the insensible boy, and the nextminute they had reached the comparative security of the saloon, wherethe water was now washing to and fro, coming in with a rush and pouringout again. 

The first efforts of the two men were now directed towards carefullyplacing Carey high and dry in an upper berth of one of the state-roomcabins, where a lamp was still burning steadily as it swung to and fro. 

"Hasn't killed him, has it, sir?" growled Bostock, excitedly, as thedoctor examined his patient. 

"No; he is breathing easily, and the bandages have not shifted, " repliedthe doctor, who then turned upon his companion in misfortune and said ina hard, defiant way: "Well, my man, this seems hard luck; we're left inthe lurch. I suppose the captain will not come back to take us off. "

"Come back and take us off, sir?" said the old sailor, with a bitterlaugh. "Not him. He's got his work cut out to keep that barge afloat. Lord help 'em all, I say, all on 'em in those open boats. There theyare afloat among reefs and breakers in a storm like this. For aught weknow, sir, they're all capsized and washing about like so much chaff bynow. "

"Then you think we're better off than they are?"

"No, I don't, " growled the old man, sourly, as a wave came thunderingover the vessel, shaking it from bow to stern. "It won't be long beforeone of them breakers'll make a way in and bust up part of the deck; andafter that it won't be long before she's ripped in pieces. Lor' amussy! the power of a thousand tons o' water going miles an hour'sawful. Shreds beams into matches, and twists ironwork like wire. Itonly means a few minutes more to live, doctor; and, as you say, it doseem hard. Poor boy!" he continued, laying his great rough handtenderly on Carey's breast. "All his young life before him, and nippedoff sudden like this. "

"Poor boy, yes, " said the doctor, gently. "But I'm thankful that he isquite insensible, and will not know the agony we have to face. "

The old sailor looked curiously in his companion's face. 

"Agony!" he said, slowly; "agony! Well, I suppose it is, but I've beenface to face with the end so many times that I suppose I've got a bitblunt. Do you know, sir, it seems to nip me more about that poor youngchap than it does about myself. "

The doctor looked at the speaker searchingly for a few moments, and thensaid, quietly:

"Can we do anything to try and save his life, my man? Life-preservers, raft, or anything of that sort?"

The old sailor laughed softly. 

"Life-preserver in a sea like this means being smothered in a fewminutes, and such a raft as we could make would be knocked to pieces andus washed off. No, sir; we're in shelter where we can die peaceably, and all we can do is to meet it like men. "

The doctor's brow knit, and he looked as if in horrible pain for a fewmoments. Then a calm, peaceful look came over his countenance, and hesmiled and held out his hand. 

"Yes, " he said, quietly; "meet it like men. "

The old sailor stared at him for a moment, and then snatched and grippedthe extended hand in perfect silence. 

"Ha!" he ejaculated at last. "I feel better, sir, after that. Nowlet's talk about the youngster there. "

The huge breakers had kept on steadily thundering at the side of thesteamer, rising over her and crashing down on her decks with thegreatest regularity; but now, as the old sailor spoke and turned towardsthe insensible boy, it seemed as if a billow greater than any which hadcome before rolled up and broke short on the reef, with the result thatthe immense bank of water seemed to plunge under the broad side of thesteamer, lifting her, and once more they were borne on the summit of thewave with a rush onward. There was a fierce, wild, hissing roar, andthe great vessel seemed to creak and groan as if it were a livingcreature in its final agony, and old Bostock gripped the doctor's handagain. 

"It's come, my lad, " he shouted, "and we'll meet it like men. We shallstrike again directly, and she'll go to pieces like a bundle of wood. "

The two men had risen to their feet, and to steady themselves they eachlaid the hand at liberty upon the berth which held their youngcompanion. 

How long they stood like this neither of them could afterwards havesaid, but it seemed an hour, during which the steamer was bornebroadside on by the huge roller, each listener in the deafening turmoiland confusion bracing himself for the shock when she struck, till therate at which she progressed began to slacken into a steady glide, thedeafening roar of breakers grew less, and at last she rode on and on, rising and falling gently, and with a slow rolling motion each minutegrowing steadier. 

But she did not strike. 

The doctor was the first to speak. 

"What does this mean?" he said, loudly, for the hissing and shrieking ofthe wind kept on. 

"The rollers have carried her right over the reef into one of they broadlagoons, or else into the quieter water on the lee of the rocks, sir. She mayn't strike now, only settle down, and sink in deep water. "

As he spoke there was a grinding sound, a sudden stoppage, the vesselhaving lifted a little and been set down with a great shock which threwthe two men heavily against the bulkhead of the cabin in which theystood, and extinguished the lamp. 

"We aren't in deep water, sir, " roared Bostock, scrambling to his feet. "Hold on; here we go again. "

For the great steamer was lifted and glided steadily on for a while, toground once more with a crashing sound. 

"That's scraping holes in her, sir, " cried Bostock. 

Then again she lifted and was borne on, apparently hundreds of yards, togo crashing over the rough rocks again with a strange, deep, grindingsound which lasted for some moments, before they were at rest on nearlyan even keel. 

"Fast!" cried Bostock. "She'll never stir again, sir. Ground her wayall among the jagged coral rock, and she's held as fast now as a ship'sboat pitched in a sea o' spikes. "

Doctor Kingsmead made no reply for some little time, while the oldsailor waited in vain for him to speak. 

"Hurt, sir?" he cried at last. 

"No, " was the reply, followed by a deep sigh but faintly heard in theroar of the wind. 

"Then I'll try if I can't get a light, sir, afore one of us is. Seemsnice to be still once more. Do you know, sir, as we may reckon as we'resaved?"

"Yes, " said the doctor, almost inaudibly; "but I can hardly believe ittrue. "

There was a clicking noise, and spark after spark of faintphosphorescent light across the black darkness. 

This was repeated again and again, but without further effect. 

"No go, sir, " cried Bostock then. "Got my matches wet, sir. If I livesto get through this I'll allus keep 'em corked up in a bottle. "

There was another streak of light directly after, followed by a flashand a wax match burned brightly in the doctor's fingers, for those hecarried in a little silver box proved to be dry. 

"Ha!" ejaculated Bostock, reaching up to the lamp, which was slowlysubsiding from its pendulum-like motion. "I hate being in the dark, even if it's only a fog. You never know which way to steer. "

"Can you light the lamp?"

"Yes, sir, all right, in a minute. Wick's got shook down. That'sbetter; give me hold, or you'll burn your fingers; mine's as hard ashorn. Well done; first go. "

For the wick caught and burned brightly, the glass was replaced, and thedoctor was able to examine his patient once more. 

"How is he, sir?"

"Just the same, " replied the doctor. 

"Well done; that's better than being worse, sir. And I say, it'sblowing great guns still, but nothing like what it was an hour ago. Dessay it'll pass over before long. Come and let's see what it's likeon deck. "

They went up together into a storm of blinding spray, which swept bythem with a hissing rush; but there were no raging billows striking thesteamer's sides and curling over in turns to sweep the deck, and, getting into shelter, they tried vainly to make out their position. 

They had no difficulty in stepping to the side of the saloon deck, forthere was no water to wade through, and the great vessel was as steadynow as if built upon a foundation of rock, and as soon as they had wipedthe spray from their eyes they tried hard to pierce the gloom. 

But in vain. It was not very dark, but there was a thick mist whichseemed to glow faintly with a peculiar phosphorescent light that washorribly weird and strange, and after a few minutes' effort they turnedto descend to the cabin again. 

"This won't last long, sir, " shouted the old sailor in the doctor's ear;"these sort o' storms seldom do. Dessay it'll be all bright sunshine inthe mornin'. We're safe as safe, with the reef and the breakers farenough away, but the old _Chusan_ will never breast the waves again. "

"And all our friends?"

"Don't talk about it, sir. They were in sound boats, well manned, andwith good officers to each, but--oh dear! oh dear!--the sea's hard todeal with in a storm like this. "

"Do you think, then, that there is no hope?"

"Oh no, sir, I don't say that, for, you see, the waves didn't run high. They may weather it all, but where they're carried to by the wind andthe awful currents there are about here no one knows. "

"But are they likely to get back to us?"

"Not a bit, sir. They don't know where we are, and they'll have theirwork cut out to find where they are themselves. "

"Have you any idea where we are--what shore this is?"

"Hardly, sir. All I do know is that from the time the typhoon struck uswe must have been carried by wind and the fierce currents right away tothe west and south. "

"And that means where?"

"Most like off the nor'-west coast o' 'Stralia, among the reefs andislands there. It's like it is on the nor'-east coast, a reg'lar coralsea. 

"Ha!" continued Bostock, when they were once more in shelter. "S'posewe take turn and turn now to watch young Master Carey. We're both wornout, sir. You take fust rest; you're worst. "

"No; lie down till I call you, my man. "

"Do you order me to, sir?"

"Yes, certainly. "

"Well, sir, I can't help it; I'm dead-beat. "

The next minute the old sailor was down on the floor in his drenchedclothes, sleeping heavily, while, in thankfulness for the life whichseemed to have been given back when they were prepared to die, DoctorKingsmead watched by his patient's side, waiting for the cessation ofthe storm and the light of day, which seemed as if it would never come. 

CHAPTER FIVE. 

"I'm so thirsty! Please, I'm so thirsty; and it is so hot!"

Twice over Doctor Kingsmead heard that appeal, but he could not move torespond to it, for Nature would have her way. He had sat watching hispatient's berth till he could watch no longer, since there are limits toeveryone's endurance, and that morning he had suddenly become insensibleto everything, dropping into a deep sleep that there was no fightingagainst. 

He had slept all that day solidly, if the term may be used, quiteunconscious of everything; but towards evening he began either to hearthings or to dream and hear external sounds. 

Feeling too reasserted itself. He was scorched by the heat, and therewas a pleasant lapping, washing sound of water making its way into hisears for some time before someone said the above words. 

He smiled at last in an amused way as he lay in a half-conscious state, for it seemed to him that it was he that declared how thirsty he was andhow hot, and he felt how breathless it was. 

So calm and still too, and so pleasant to lie back there in spite ofheat and thirst, listening to that lapping, washing sound softened bydistance into a whisper. 

Then the words were repeated, and he lay perfectly still with his eyesclose shut, thinking in a dreamy way that it would be wise to drink aglass of water and open a window to let in the air, for it must be a hotmorning down in his old Devonshire home with the sun shining throughupon his bed. 

Then all at once he opened his eyes and lay looking down at somethingupon the floor--something lying in the full glow of the ruddy sunshinewhich came through the round plate glass of the port-hole, and he wasstill so much asleep that he was puzzled to make out what it meant. 

By degrees he grasped faintly that it was a man fast asleep, and makinga gurgling noise as he breathed, but he could not make out why that manshould be asleep on the floor of his bed-room in Devonshire, down thereat Dawlish where the blue sea washed against the red rocks. 

It was very puzzling and confusing, and when for the third time he feltthat he was saying that he was so hot and so thirsty he uttered a sighand said to himself that he must get up and drink a glass of water andopen his bed-room window, before lying down again. 

This thought roused him a little from his deep, heavy, stupefied state, and he had a surprise. For he made an effort to get up, and then feltstartled on realising the fact that he was not lying down, but sittingin an awkward position, his head hanging back over the side of a chair, and his neck stiffened and aching. 

Then he knew that he was not at home in Devonshire, but in thestate-room of a ship, and that the heat was stifling. 

This was enough to rouse him from his state of stupefaction a littlemore, and then as he straightened his neck and looked about he fullyawoke with one mental leap. 

His first glance was at Carey, who had moved and lay in a differentposition, but was quite motionless now. 

His next was at the little port-hole window, which he unfastened andthrew open, to feel a puff of soft air and hear the gentle washing ofthe ocean, which spread out calm and still like a sea of gold beneath anorange sky. 

It was very calm, just heaving softly, and from a distance came atintervals the deep booming roar of the breakers on a reef; but there washardly a breath of air, for the terrible hurricane had passed. 

Stiff and aching from the awkward position in which he had slept, thedoctor crossed to the door and pushed it open wide, with the result thatthe suffocating atmosphere of the cabin began rapidly to give place tothe soft, warm, pure air, every breath of which cleared the latesleeper's brain and gave him strength. 

"Bostock--Bostock, " he said, softly; but there was no answer, and hebent down and touched the sleeper on the shoulder. 

"Where away then?" grumbled the man. 

"Bostock, wake up. "

"Heave to! D'yer hear? heave to!" came in low, muttered tones. 

"Bostock, man, wake up. You've been asleep these ten or twelve hours. "

Still no sensible reply, and the doctor gave the man a rough shake. 

"Ay, ay, sir, " he shouted. "All hands on deck! Tumble up, you lubbers;tumble up. "

"Hush!"

"Eh? The doctor! All right, sir. Why, I've been asleep!"

"Yes, yes, but be quiet, " whispered his companion. "I was overcome andhave slept too. "

"But the youngster, sir?" whispered the old sailor, hoarsely, as he roseto his feet. "How is he, sir?"

"He has slept heavily. He does not seem any worse. "

"I'm so thirsty!" came feebly from the boy's berth. 

"Dear lad!" said Bostock, quickly. "I'll get some water for him todrink. "

"Yes, quickly, " cried the doctor, as he recalled his dream-like ideasand grasped the truth. 

The old sailor hurried out, and the doctor laid his hand gently on hispatient's head, to find it moist with perspiration. As he did so theboy's eyes opened and he stared at the doctor wonderingly for a fewmoments before the light of recognition came into them, and he smiled. 

"Doctor!" he said. "You here?"

"Yes, my dear boy, " said the doctor, gently. "How do you feel?"

"Been dreaming horribly, and got such a bad headache. But--but--"

He stared about him, then back at the doctor, and an anxious look cameinto his eyes. 

"Have--have I been ill?" he said, in a husky voice, and he raised onehand to catch at the doctor's, but let it fall with a faint cry of pain. 

"Yes, a little; but you are getting better, my dear boy, " said thedoctor, soothingly. "Don't be alarmed; only lie still. "

"My shoulder throbs and burns, and my head is all queer. Ah, I remembernow, " he cried, excitedly; "I fell. "

"Yes, yes, but--"

"Oh, doctor, " cried the boy, in a voice full of excitement, "don't say Ibroke my new double glass!"

"My dear lad, " cried the doctor, smiling; "I don't know. "

"Doctor!"

"But if you have I'll buy you another. "

"So I fell from up aloft?"

"Here you are, sir, " came in a hoarse voice; "got at the tank quiteeasy, and I found a sound glass. "

Then the sturdy fellow gave a frisk after the fashion of an ancientgoat. 

"Hooroar!" he cried; "Jack's alive O! I knew he wouldn't die a bit!"

"Hush! Silence, man!" cried the doctor. "Mind! you're spilling thewater. "

"So I am, " said the old sailor, gruffly, and he began to pour out aglassful from the tin he held in one hand, raising the other so as tomake the clear, cool liquid sparkle in bubbles as if he meant to give ita head. 

"Ha!" sighed Carey, smiling. "Quick! I am so thirsty. "

He was about to try and rise, but the doctor checked him. 

"Don't do that, " he said. "I'll raise you up, pillow and all, andBostock shall hold it to your lips. No, stop. --Is the vessel muchbroken up, my man?"

"Not a bit, sir, but I expect she's got holes in her bottom. "

"I won't be a minute, Carey, lad. I'm going to my surgery. Don'tmove. "

He hurried out, leaving Bostock standing with the glass and tin ofwater, breathing hard and staring down at the injured boy. 

"Here, Bob, " said Carey, faintly. "What's the matter?"

"You lie still and wait till the doctor comes back, my lad, " said theold fellow, gruffly. 

"I am lying still, " said Carey, peevishly. "Tell me directly; what'sthe matter?"

"Why, you said you knowed. I heard yer. You said you fell from upaloft. "

"Yes, yes, " cried Carey; "but the doctor asked you if the ship was muchbroken up. "

"Did he, sir?"

"You know he did, and you said she had got some holes in her bottom. "

"Did I, sir?"

"Yes, yes, of course you did, " cried Carey, impatiently. 

"Well, it's a rum un, then, sir. "

"Now, no nonsense; tell me, surely. Oh, I don't understand!" sighed theboy, wearily. 

"Here we are, my boy, " said the doctor, entering with a piece of glasstube bent at right angles. "Give me the glass, Bostock. "

"Glass it is, sir, " growled the man, and the doctor inserted one end ofthe glass syphon in the water and the other between his patient's lips, so that he could drink without being raised. 

Carey half, closed his eyes, and his countenance bespoke his intenseenjoyment, as the cool, pleasant water trickled slowly down his drythroat till the glass was emptied, and the old sailor raised the tin heheld. 

"'Nother go, sir?" he asked. 

"Yes, " said Carey. 

"No, " said the doctor; "not yet. "

"Ha!" sighed Carey; "but that was good. I say, doctor, I am brokensomewhere, am I not?"

"Yes. "

"'Tisn't my neck, is it?"

"Hor! hor! hor!" chuckled the old sailor. 

"Well, it feels like it, " said Carey, pettishly. 

"Perhaps I hardly ought to tell you now, " said the doctor, gravely. 

"Then it is, " cried Carey, excitedly. 

"No, no, no. Nonsense. You have fractured a bone, but it is not aserious matter, my dear fellow. It is the collar-bone, but if you arequiet it will soon knit together again. "

"How queer. But I've hurt my head too. "

"Yes, a good deal; but that will soon come right. "

"Not cracked it, have I, doctor?"

"Decidedly not. "

"Ha!" sighed the boy. "That's a good job. That comes of having a goodthick head, Bob. I remember slipping, but no more. I say, didn't Icome down an awful whop?"

"You lie still and don't talk, my boy, " said the doctor, quietly. 

"Yes, directly; but tell me about the ship. Why aren't we going on? Ican't hear the throbbing of the engine. "

"Nay, my lad, " said the old sailor, shaking his head; "never no more. "

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you must know, Carey, my lad, " said the doctor; "but I don't wantyou to become excited about it. If I tell you, will you lie still thenand be patient?"

"Of course I will, doctor, if I must. "

"The fact is, then, since your fall we have been in a terriblehurricane. "

"A hurricane? Why, it was only this morning I tumbled. "

The doctor shook his head. 

"Never mind when it was, " he said. "You have been lying here some time, and I grieve to tell you that while you were insensible we had a greatmishap. The main shaft broke, and we have been driven on a reef. "

"Wrecked?"

"Yes. "

"But we're all saved?"

"I hope so, " said the doctor. "Now I shall tell you no more to-day. Will you have a little more water?"

"Yes, please, " said the boy, eagerly, and he drank the half-glassfulmore given to him with the greatest of avidity, closed his eyes directlyafter, and dropped off into a calm sleep. 

"That's bad, aren't it, sir?" whispered the old sailor, as the doctorbent over his patient. 

"Bad? No. Look at the soft dewy perspiration on his temples. "

"I see, sir. Oughtn't it to be wiped dry?"

"No, no; let him sleep. It is a sign that he will not be troubled withfever, and its following weakness. "

"But he aren't had no brackfuss, sir. "

"He has had all that he requires, and he will sleep for hours now. "

"Bless the lad! That's good news, sir. It's a fine thing to be adoctor, and know all these things. Can he be left, sir?"

"Yes; he will be better undisturbed. "

"Then don't you think, sir, as you and me'd better go on deck andoverhaul things a bit; see how things are and look round?"

"Yes, certainly. "

"Then you lead on, sir, for there's a deal I'm wanting to see. "

The door was softly closed upon the sleeping lad, and doctor and ableseaman stepped into the saloon to try and make out how they stood. 

CHAPTER SIX. 

The sun was sinking low as the doctor and his companion reached the deckand then ascended to the bridge to have a hasty glance round before thebrief tropical evening should give place to darkness, and in thatrapidly made observation they grasped that the great steamer, wonderfully uninjured, lay aground in comparatively shallow water, doubtless upon the coral rocks which formed the bottom of a broadlagoon. 

Everything loose had been carried away by the waves which had swept thedecks, but the masts and funnel were standing comparatively uninjured, and as far as they could make out, scarcely any injury had been done tothe structure of the ship. 

"The mischief's all below, sir, I expect, " said the old sailor. "Weshall find she's got a lot of water in her hold. "

"But she lies immovable, I suppose, " said the doctor. 

"Quite, sir; she's fast as fast can be, and'll lie till she rusts away, which won't be this side o' fifty year. "

"Then there is no immediate danger?"

"Not a bit, sir, and it's a bad job as those boats was launched; they'dall have been better here if the skipper could have known. "

"Yes; waited till the storm had passed, " assented the doctor. 

"Ay, sir, but who could tell that we were going to be floated over thereef and set down, as you may say, in dock? Besides, if the skipperhadn't ordered the boats out when he did there'd ha' been a mutiny. "

"I suppose so; the crew would have risen against their officers. "

"The crew, sir? Yes, and the passengers too. There'd ha' been a panicand a rush. "

The doctor sighed, shaded his eyes, and looked out from the side wherethey stood at the golden lagoon. 

In the distance he could see the huge rollers breaking regularly on thecoral reef--a wonderful sight in the setting sun, the water glowingorange and blood-red, while the spray which rose was a fiery gold. 

"Magnificent, " said the doctor, softly, and he turned to cross to theother side of the deck to look out westward over a couple of hundredyards of smooth water to a grove of cocoanut-trees, beyond which wasdense forest, and above that, hill and ravine running up glorious in thegolden sunset for hundreds of feet. 

"An island--a coral island, I suppose, " said the doctor. 

"Nay, sir; there's coral all about here, but that's not a coral island;it runs up too big. I daresay that's been an old volcano some time, andwhen we land we shall most likely find a bit of a lake of good water upyonder among the hills. Yes, that we shall, for look there among thetrees, flashing like in the sunshine; that's a bit of a waterfall. It'sa little river, you see, where the lake empties out. "

The doctor nodded. "I think we have seen enough for this evening, Bostock, " he said, with a sigh; "everything would look so beautiful ifone did not feel so sad. "

"Sad, sir?" cried the old sailor, wonderingly. "What, with young MasterCarey coming round instead o' lying dead and cold; and us safe and soundwith a well-stored ship anchored under our feet?"

"Yes, that is all good and comforting, Bostock, " said the doctor; "butwhat about all our companions and friends?"

"Ay, and mates too, " said the old sailor. "Yes, that's bad, but there'salways a bit o' blue sky behind the clouds. Who knows, sir, but whatthey may all be making for port over this smooth red sea after ridingout the storm?"

"I hope they are, " said the doctor, fervently. 

"Same here, sir, " said the old sailor. "Perhaps they are, and mebbejust at this here very blessed moment there's some on 'em feeling assorry as we are 'cause they think as the _Susan's_ gone down in the deepsea and taken with her that there dear boy, the doctor, and poor old BobBostock. Ay, sir, some of our chaps didn't much like me, because I washard on some o' the young ones over making 'em tackle to. But I'll bebound to say, sir, " cried the old man, chuckling till the tears stood inhis eyes, "some on 'em'll be saying among theirselves that old BobBostock was as good a mate as ever stepped the deck. "

"I hope so too, " said the doctor, smiling; "people are very fond offinding out a man's good qualities when he's dead. "

"But I aren't dead, sir, and I don't mean to be dead as long as I canhelp it. But don't you feel awful sick and faint, sir?"

"Faint?"

"Yes, sir. Human nature's human nature, you know, sir, and if you stopits victuals it gets ravenish. I aren't had a mouthful of anything butsalt water for quite thirty hours, and I don't believe you haveneither. "

"I don't believe I have, Bostock, " said the doctor, smiling. 

"Thought not, sir. So what do you say to going and looking up thestooard's and the cook's quarters and seeing what we can find?"

"Yes, Bostock, the wisest thing we can do, and I must be thinking aboutmy patient too. I must not let him starve. "

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

There was not much time for examination before darkness set in, butenough to prove to the two seekers that there was not the slightestcause for anxiety respecting provisions; for, without taking intoconsideration what the sea and shore might afford them upon being tried, there was the full run of the ample stores provided for about a hundredpeople, and the great tanks of fresh water. In short, as Bostock putit:

"Why, there's enough for us three to live like fighting cocks for awhole year, sir, and to have company too. Then there's water ashore, aswe saw plainly enough, and there's sure to be something or another toeat there, besides cocoanuts, which aren't bad if you drink 'em. Boundto say there's hysters too, while, as for fish, I know what these watersare. You've only got to put a bit o' bait on a hook and hold it out, and the fish are so hungry for it that they'll jump out o' water or rushashore to catch it. Why, we're in luck, sir. "

"Luck, Bostock?" said the doctor, sadly. 

"Yes, sir, luck. It's an awful bad job for the old _Susan_ to bewrecked; but she's well insured, I've no doubt, and there must bedisasters at sea sometimes. "

"And the passengers and crew, my man?" said the doctor, bitterly. 

"Saved, every one of 'em, we hope and pray, sir, and as I said afore, pitying us poor chaps as they think warn't. Beg pardon, sir, you're agentleman and a scholar, while I'm only a poor uneddicated sort of afellow as never had any time for schooling but I've larnt a deal in mytime, not book larning, but useful stuff. "

"Well, " said the doctor, smiling, for the old sailor had stopped short;"why don't you go on, Bostock?"

"Thought I was getting too forrard, sir. "

"No, no, go on; what were you about to say just now?"

"Well, sir, only this, that it's best to take things as they come andnot grumble. Here we are, unfortunate, as you may say, but what a lotworse off we might be. Little while ago, as we thought, there was youngMaster Carey dying as fast as he could, and us just waiting to go to thebottom. Now here's that there dear lad asleep comf'table and gettingbetter, and you and me with the pick o' the berths and the saloon all toourselves, getting ready to have a reg'lar good, square meal. Aren'tgot so werry much to grumble at, have we?"

Doctor Kingsmead gave the speaker a hearty slap on the shoulder. 

"Bostock, " he said, "you're a philosopher. There, we'll make the bestof things, and, in the hope that our poor friends are all saved, I willnot murmur against our fate. "

"That's right, sir, and now if you don't mind my being a bit rough I'llbe cook and stooard, and you'll soon have your bit to eat, and whenyou've done--"

"You will have done too, " said the doctor, "and we must dropdistinctions now. So help me make the coffee, and then we'll have ourmeal, and afterwards we must make our plans. "

They made very few plans that night, for in spite of their long sleepthat day the exhaustion they had gone through during the typhoon stilltold upon them so that, after seeing to Carey, who was sleepingpeacefully enough, they took it in turns to keep watches of three hours'length, and passed the night sleeping or listening to the soft, low boomof the breakers on the reef. 

The morning broke gloriously, and the sunshine and soft air seemed tosend a thrill of elasticity through the doctor, which grew into afeeling of joy as he examined his patient, who slept still as if he hadnot moved during the night. 

He stepped out of the cabin to hear Bostock whistling away cheerily inthe steward's department: but the whistling ceased as soon as the doctorappeared. 

"Morning, sir. What do you make o' the young skipper?"

"Sleeping still, " said the doctor; "a beautiful, restful sleep, withouta trace of fever. "

"Hooroar for that, sir. Best thing for him, aren't it?"

"Yes, so long as we keep up his strength. "

"We, sir? You mean you. "

"I mean we, Bostock, for you will help. "

"All right, sir, ready _and_ willin'. "

"The sleep will be the best thing for him, and when we can move himwe'll have him up on deck, and contrive a shade. "

"Oh, I can soon do that, sir. We couldn't rig up the old awning again, but there's plenty of canvas to set up a little un. Is he ready forsome breakfast, do you think?"

"I would not wake him on any consideration. Let him sleep. "

"Good, sir. There's a bit ready as soon as you like, and after that wecan get to work. "

Carey still slept on whilst the doctor and old Bob made a hearty meal, and, taking advantage of the freedom thus afforded them, they examinedtheir position in relation to the shore by naked eye and with one of theglasses from the captain's cabin. 

There it all was as they had partly seen overnight: the vessel firmlyfixed in the rocky shallows of a great lagoon, whose waters were fastbecoming of crystal-clearness and as smooth as a pond, while sea-wardthere was the great sheltering reef with everlasting breakers thunderingand fretting and throwing up a cloud of surf. 

On the other side, comparatively close at hand, was, as far as theycould make out, the lovely shore of a beautiful island, bathed insunshine and glorious in rich verdure and purple shade, while they couldnow clearly see the sparkling surface of the stream, which tumbled inrapids and falls down to the vivid blue waters of the lagoon. 

"Looks good enough for anything, sir, don't it?"

"A perfect paradise, Bostock, " said the doctor, who could hardly tearhis eyes from the glorious scene. 

"It just is, sir, " said the old sailor; "makes a man feel quite youngagain to see it. My word! won't that dear lad enjy hisself as soon ashe's well enough to go ashore? I'm reckoning ongoing with him, sir. Won't be to-day, I suppose?"

"No, " said the doctor, smiling, as he closed the glass in its case; "noryet this month, Bostock. "

"That's a long time, sir. I might pig-aback him if we got him ashore. "

"Let's get him well first. "

"Right, sir, you know best; but I don't want the poor young chap to bedull and moping. I might rig up some fishing-tackle for him, though, so's he could sit on deck here and fish. "

"Yes, by-and-by; but he will not be dull. We'll amuse him somehow. "

"That we will, sir; and now you must be skipper and take the lead, for Is'pose we shall have to live here a bit. "

"Is that likely to be the mainland?" said the doctor, by way of answer. 

"Not it, sir. One of the hundreds of islands out in these parts. "

"I see no sign of inhabitants. "

"That's right, sir. Men's scarce about here. We shan't see none, and Idon't expect we shall see any ships go by. Skippers give these waters awide berth on account of the coral reefs. Strikes me that we shall haveto make ourselves comf'table and wait till something turns up. The_Susan's_ as safe as a house. Even if another storm comes, as therewill some day, she can't move. She'll get to be more of a fixter as theyears go by, with the coral growing up all round her. "

"Do you think it will?"

"Think, sir? Why, it grows up just like as if it was so much moss in awood. "

"Then you are ready to make up your mind to be here for years to come?"

"Yes, sir; aren't you?"

The doctor shrugged his shoulders. 

"We couldn't be better off, sir. Now, just you wait a bit, sir, andyou'll see something. Directly that young chap's well enough, we shan'tbe able to hold him. He'll be 'bout half mad with delight. He won'twant to go away--not for a long time, at all events. "

"Well, we shall see, " said the doctor. "Now let's go below. "

"Right, sir. I wouldn't do anything till you come. "

They began a tour of inspection at once, making their way as far down asthey could, to find that the lower hold was eight or ten feet deep inwater, which covered the heavy cargo of railway iron, machinery, casks, and miscellaneous goods. 

"'Bout high water now, sir, " said the old sailor. "It'll sink a gooddeal when the tide's out. We seem to have come on at high water. "

"Would it be possible to stop it out, and in the course of time pump thevessel clear?"

"Not if we'd got fifty steam pumps, sir: that water'll flow in and outand be always sweet--I mean salt--for she's got plates below thereripped off like sheets of writing paper. But the water won't hurt us, and the stores such as we want are all above it. There's nothing tomind there. "

The doctor nodded in acquiescence, and they went on with their search, to find more and more how well they were provided for, old Bostockchuckling again and again as each advantage came home to him. 

"I don't believe no shipwrecked chaps was ever so well off before. Why, it's wonderful how little the _Susan's_ hurt. Look at the store ofcoals we've got, and at the cook's galley all ready for cooking achicken--if we had one--or a mutton chop, if the last two sheep hadn'tbeen drowned and washed away along with the cow. Now, that was badluck, sir. Drop o' milk'd been a fine thing for that there boy if Icould ha' squeezed it out. I never did try to milk, sir, but I'd ha'tried. Don't suppose it would ha' been so very hard, if the old cowwould ha' stood still. Milk would be a fine thing for him, wouldn'tit?"

"Yes, excellent, " said the doctor, with a peculiar smile; "but we haveno cow, Bostock. "

"Tchah! Of course not, sir, " said the old sailor, giving himself a slapon the mouth, "and me talking like that. But hi! Look here, sir, " hecontinued, pointing shoreward. 

"What at?" said the doctor, who was startled by the man's energy. "Whatdo you see--natives?"

"No, no, sir; there, sir, in a row along beyond the sands. Noo milk forthat there lad, sir. Vegetable cows--cocoanuts. Plenty for years tocome. "

"Yes, we shall be in the midst of plenty, " said the doctor, lookingwistfully round. "Prisoners, perhaps, but happily provided for. Lookyonder, Bostock. "

"What at, the birds, sir? I've seen 'em all the morning. Ducks andterns as well as gull things. They seem to be nesting about those rocksyonder. And of coarse that means noo-laid eggs for that there boy; yes, and roast duck. There's shooting tackle down below, isn't there, sir?"

"Yes, the captain has arms, and I have a double gun in my cabin. "

"There, hark at that, sir, " cried the old sailor. "Now what could onewish for more?"

"What indeed?" said the doctor, smiling at his companion's enthusiasm. 

"Nothing, sir, " cried Bostock. "Yes, there's something, sir, as wehaven't got and we must have. "

"What's that?"

"A boat, sir, to get ashore with. Now, that is a bit o' bad luck. "

"Ah, yes, we must have a boat to go ashore, and every one has gone. "

"Yes, sir, even the little dinghy. That must ha' been washed away, sameas the gig, for that warn't launched. But all right, sir; there's otherways o' killing a cat besides hanging. We must make one. "

"Or a raft, " said the doctor. 

"Raft'll do to begin with. Four bunged-up casks and some boards'll dofirst. That's easy to make on deck, for there's the carpenter's tools, and we can easily rig up tackle to hyste it over the side. It's theboat as'll bother us, but you never know what you can do till you try. "

"No, Bostock, you never do. "

"That's so, sir. A boat we want, and a boat we'll have. I say, sir, just think of it; won't that there dear lad just enjy having a boat tosail and fish about here in the lagoon, or out yonder across the reef ona calm day?"

"Yes, we must get him well, Bostock, " said the doctor, smiling. "Comealong: we need not examine our position any more; let's see if he isawake. "

"And ready for a drop o' soup, sir. There's rows of them tins o'portable, as they call it, sir, in the store-room. Drop warmed up oughtto be just the thing now, poor lad; he can't work his teeth as heshould. "

"We'll see, " said the doctor, and they made their way towards thesaloon, but only to stop short and listen to the sounds which camesoftly through the cabin bulkheads--sounds which made the old sailordrop into the attitude of one with folded arms about to perform ahornpipe, and executing three or four steps, to end suddenly with a slapon the leg. 

"Hear that, sir?" he whispered, softly. "That's what I call real pluckin a lad with his upper works broke clean in half. Just think o' that!"

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

It was a pleasant sound: sometimes a mere humming, sometimes the melodysung to a few of the words. 

For Carey was lying in his berth with his head turned so that he couldgaze through the open port-hole at the glorious, glistening sea, and asthe doctor very softly pushed the door a little open there came clearlyto the listeners' ears a scrap of the old sea song, "The Mermaid":--

 "And we jolly sailor boys were sitting up aloft, And the land-lubbers lying down below, below, below, And the land-lubbers lying down below. 

"Hullo! Who's that? Oh, you, doctor! I say, what a time you've been!I'm so hungry. Mayn't I get up?"

"Good signs those, my lad, " said the doctor, cheerily; "but not yet, "and he sat down, after easing the poor boy's bandages, to chat to himabout the state of affairs, every word of which was eagerly drunk in, while Bostock played the part of cook and warmed up some gravy soup. 

It soon became evident that Carey was going to develop no bad symptomsfrom the injury to his head, and that his sufferings were to be confinedto the broken collar-bone, which, under Doctor Kingsmead's care, gavepromise of a rapid knitting together. There was pain enough to bear, but the boy's bright elastic temperament was in his favour. He was whatthe doctor called a good patient, and health and youth joined to helphim on. 

As soon as possible he was allowed on deck to watch the making of a raftand use his uninjured glass in studying the shore of the island, withits constant change of hue. Then, too, there was the reef with theclouds of spray, and the beautiful lagoon, alive at times with the fishwhich came in with the tide through an opening in the reef, beyond whichthere was the heaving, open sea. 

"It doesn't seem a bit like being shipwrecked, " said Carey one day, ashe lay back in a cane chair. "One has so many things about one. Shipwrecked folk don't generally have plenty of tools and things. Isay, doctor, shall I be fit to go with you the first time you goashore?"

"Would you like to?"

"Like to! Oh, I say, " cried the boy; "fancy being left here alone inthe ship when you two go. I say, don't leave me; it would make meworse. "

"Wait a bit, and we'll see. The raft is not ready yet. Bostock has notfitted the mast and sail. "

"No, " said Carey, thoughtfully. "I say, isn't he dreadfully slow?"

The doctor laughed. 

"Well, I was thinking something of the kind, certainly, my boy. "

Carey was silent and thoughtful for a few minutes, and then he beganagain. 

"It's very beautiful lying back here, " he said at last, "and sometimes Ifeel as if I should like to do nothing else for a month to come. Then Iget hot and fidgety and tired of it all. Yes, he is horribly slow. I've watched him, and instead of knocking a nail right in at once hegets boring holes and measuring and trying first one and then anothertill he gets one to suit him. It makes me feel sometimes as if I shouldlike to throw books at him. I'll tell him to make haste and finish. "

"Better not, perhaps, " said the doctor, quietly, as he busied himselftrying to catch some of the floating jelly-fish over the side with arope and bucket. "You may hurt his feelings. "

No more was said on the subject then, for there was enough to interestthe patient in examining with a magnifying glass the curious creaturescaptured; but Carey had not forgotten, and that evening when the doctorwas below and Bostock had brought up the bag of tools he used to workupon the clumsy-looking raft he was building, the boy lay back watchinghim chewing away at a piece of tobacco, and bending thoughtfully overthe structure. 

"I say, " cried Carey at last in a peevish tone, "when are you going tofinish that raft?"

"Finish it, my lad?"

"Yes, finish it. How many more days are you going to be?"

Bostock screwed up his face, rose erect in a very slow and deliberateway, laid down the auger he held, and took off his cap to scratch hishead. 

"Finish it?" he said, thoughtfully. "Well, I don't quite know; you see, I must make it reg'lar strong. "

"Of course, " cried Carey, "but you spend so much time thinking aboutit. "

"Well, yes, my lad, I do, certainly; but then, you see, I have to do thethinking and making too. There's on'y me, you see. "

"Why didn't you let the doctor help you? He did want to. "

"Ye-es, he did want to, my lad, " said the old sailor, in the slowest andmost provoking way. "He's a wonderful clever man too, is the doctor. See what a beautiful job he's making of your broken timbers; but whatdoes he know about making a raft? This is my job, and bime-by it'll bemy job to make a boat, which'll want more thinking about than eventhis. "

"Pooh! I could have made it in half the time. "

"Ah, you think so, my lad, just the same as I might think I could ha'mended your broken colly bone. But I couldn't, and I wouldn't offer to, and of course I don't want the doctor to meddle with my work. "

"It's horrible to watch you, " said Carey, pettishly. "I get sick ofseeing you. "

"Do you, now?" said Bostock, smiling; but he shook his head. "Not you, my lad; you only say so. You're getting better; that's what's thematter with you. "

"Pish!" ejaculated the boy, contemptuously. "There, drive in a few morenails to make all fast, and then it'll be done. "

"Done, sir? Not it, " said the old man, walking slowly round thecumbrous construction. "I've been thinking that I shall put in two morecasks, one on each side. "

"What!" cried Carey, angrily. "Why, that'll take you anotherfortnight. "

"Nay, nay, " said the old sailor, coolly; "not a fortnight; say a week orten days. "

"And it will make it heavier too. I don't believe you can launch it asit is. "

"Not launch it?" said Bostock, tapping the casks at the four angles, oneafter another, with the handle of the auger, and being apparently sowell satisfied with the drum-like tones that he worked round once more. "Oh, yes, I can get her launched easy enough with a rope through a blockand the stern capstan. There won't be no trouble about that. "

"Finish it off then, and never mind putting two more casks in. "

"Look ye here, my lad, " said the old fellow, solemnly, "do you suppose Iwant that there raft to capsize and shoot us off among the sharkses?"

"Of course not. Seen any of them, Bob?"

"Lots, my lad. They come swimming round this morning as if looking outfor bits for breakfast. Why, if that raft capsized they'd chew us uplike reddishes. I'm not going to risk that, my lad. I've got acharacter to lose, you see. I'm making this raft, and I want it to be araft as you and the doctor'll be proud on--a raft as we can row or sailor go fishing with. "

"Yes, fishing, " said Carey, eagerly. "When am I to have that line andtry for something?"

"Oh, we'll see about that, " said the old sailor, coolly. "Let's get theraft done first. "

"Get the raft done first!" cried Carey, angrily. "You'll never get itdone. "

"Oh, yes, I will, my lad; and it'll be one you could dance on if youliked. Don't you be in such a precious hurry. "

"Precious hurry, indeed. Do you know what it means to be sitting hereand hardly allowed to move day after day?"

"Course I do, my lad. I see you. "

"But you don't know how horribly tiresome it is, " cried Carey, who wasgrowing more and more exasperated. "Look here, haven't you promised metime after time that you'd have a fishing-line ready for me so that Icould hold it when the tide came in and get a few fish?"

"To be sure I did, " said Bostock, coolly. 

"Then why don't you do it?"

"Look ye here, my lad, you are getting better, you know, and that's whatmakes you so rusty. "

"Anyone would get rusty, doing nothing day after day. Now then, Bob, I'll stand no more nonsense. You get the fishing-line directly. Do youhear?"

"Oh, yes, my lad, I hear. You spoke loud enough. "

"Then why don't you go and get one?"

"'Cause I'm busy making a raft. "

"That you're not. You're only fiddling about it like an old woman. "

"Hor, hor!" laughed the man. "Like an old woman!"

"Will you fetch me a long fishing-line?"

"No good now, sir; tide's going out. "

"Never you mind about that. I want a line. "

Bostock carefully placed the auger against one end of a plank, gruntedtwice over, and then began to turn the handle. 

"Precious hard bit o' wood, sir. "

"Are you going to fetch me that line, sir?" cried Carey. 

"Bime-by, my lad. "

"No, I want it now, " cried Carey. 

Bostock took the auger from the hole he had begun to make, and held itas if it was a hammer with which he was going to threaten the boy. 

"Look ye here, my lad, " he said, "do you know what the fish is like ascomes into this lagoon?"

"Yes, of course I do; like fish, " said Carey, angrily. 

"Fish they is; but do you know how big some of 'em are?"

"No. "

"Well, I do. There's some of 'em big enough to pull like donkeys. Now, jest s'pose as you hooks one. "

"Well, suppose I do? We'll have it out, and you shall cook it. DoctorKingsmead said it would be nice to have a bit of fresh fish. "

"That's right enough, my lad; but let's go back to what I said. Supposeyou hook one, what then?"

"Why, I should catch it. "

"Not you, sir. You'd be a bit excited, and you'd pull, and the fish'dpull, and in about a brace o' shakes we should have your upper timbers, as the doctor's been taking so much trouble to mend, all knocked topieces again. Now then, my lad, what have you got to say to that?"

Carey had nothing to say to it, so he lay back with his face puckeredup, staring straight before him. 

The old sailor used the auger as a hammer and tapped the end of one ofthe casks so that it sounded loudly. 

"Now then, my lad, " he cried, sharply, "aren't that true?"

"I suppose it is, Bob, " said Carey, rather dolefully. 

"That's right, my lad. You're getting right, and I want to see youquite right, and then you shall have a line half a mile long, if youlike. "

Carey was silent, and after giving him a nod the old sailor turneddeliberately to his work, grunting slowly and laboriously over boring atthe hole, and resting from time to time, while as the boy watched him athought flashed into his head and gradually grew brighter and brightertill he could contain himself no longer, for the old sailor's actionsseemed to be so contrary to all that the boy knew, and he felt that hehad got hold of a clue. 

"Look here, Bob, " he said, "suppose--"

"Yes, sir, " said the old sailor, for the boy stopped, and he was glad ofthe opportunity for resting. "I am supposing, sir; go on. "

"I was going to say, suppose we knew that the _Chusan_ was breaking upunder our feet; how long would it take you to finish that raft?"

"But she aren't a-breaking up under our feet, sir. You might take theold _Susan_ on lease for one-and-twenty year, and she'd be all solid atthe end. "

"But suppose she was going down, Bob. "

"But she couldn't be going down, my lad, " argued the old sailor; "she'sgot miles o' solid coral rock underneath her. "

"Never mind what she has underneath her. I say, suppose she was sinkingunder our feet; how long would it take you to finish the raft so that wecould get ashore?"

"Well, 'bout five minutes, " said the old fellow, with a grim smile. 

"There, I knew it!" cried Carey, excitedly. "I knew it; and you'regoing on day after day regularly playing with the job for some reason ofyour own. "

"Nay, nay, nay, " cried the old fellow, picking up a nail, seizing ahammer, and driving away loudly. 

"It isn't because you're lazy. "

"Oh, I dunno, sir; there's no skipper now, and everything's to one'shand. I don't see why one should work too hard. "

"That's all gammon, Bob, " said Carey, sternly. 

"Hark at him! Why, I never heard you talk that how afore, sir. "

"You're dawdling on for some reason, Bob. You see, you owned that youcould make the raft seaworthy in five minutes. "

"Ay, ay, my lad, but then she'd only be rough. I'm going on polishinglike, and making her a raft to be proud on. I said so afore. "

"That's all stuff and nonsense, Bob, " cried Carey. "I know. Now tellthe truth; you've some reason for being so long. "

Bostock was silent, and he screwed up his mahogany-tinted face till helooked ten years older. 

"Come, sir, speak the truth. "

"Allus does, " said the old fellow, gruffly. 

"Let's have it then. Why are you spinning out this job so long andwon't get it done?"

"Am I, sir--spinning it out like?"

"Yes, you know you are. Now, are you going to tell me why?"

"No, I aren't, " growled the old fellow. 

"Very well, but I believe I know. "

"Not you, my lad. I tell you I'm going to make an out-and-out good jobof it. "

"Keeping it back so as not to go till I'm well enough to go too. That'swhy, " said Carey, and he looked at the old sailor searchingly, and triedto catch his eye, the one that was open, the other being close shut. But it was impossible, for Bostock made believe to have great difficultyin hitting that nail exactly on the head, and hammered away with all hismight. 

"Now then, are you going to own it, sir?" cried Carey. 

Bostock gave seven or eight final blows with the hammer as if he wereperforming on an old-fashioned knocker, and finished off with a finalbang, before turning round, and with both eyes open now he saiddefiantly:

"Own up, sir? No, I aren't, but there, she's finished now. "

"Quite ready to go into the water?" said Carey. 

"Yes, " said the old fellow, bluntly; "she'd bear us and a load o' bricksif we had 'em. "

"And that's why you've kept her back, " said Carey, half-mockingly, butwith a choking sensation in his throat--due to weakness perhaps. 

"I aren't going to say naught, " said the old fellow, gruffly. 

"But you haven't polished her. "

"No; I aren't, " said Bostock, and he began to gather up his tools. 

"But you can't be proud of such a rough thing as that. "

Carey laughed at the queer look the old fellow gave. 

"There, " he cried, "didn't I say you were making believe?"

"Nay, that you didn't, sir. I never heard you. "

"Here's Doctor Kingsmead coming up. "

"Here, I say, don't you say a word to him, my lad, " cried the old sailorin an anxious whisper. 

"Will you own to it then?"

"Nay, that I won't, " came in a growl. 

"Here, doctor, " cried Carey, loudly. 

"Yes, what is it?"

"Oh, Master Carey, don't tell on a fellow, " whispered Bostock. 

"You're just in time. The raft's done. Bostock has just driven in thelast nail. "

"Glad to hear it, " said the doctor. "Then I suppose we may get her intothe water to-morrow. "

"Yes, sir, she'll do now, " growled the old sailor. 

"That's right, " said the doctor. "Look here, Carey, my lad, we'll tryhow she rides in the water to-morrow, and if she's all right, I think wemight swing you down in a chair from a block, and you might go with us, for you need not exert yourself in the least. You would sit in thechair. "

"Yes, " cried the boy, eagerly. "I feel sure it wouldn't hurt me a bit. "

"What do you say, Bostock? Could we manage?"

"That we could, sir; wrap him up and drop him down so as we shouldn'tdisturb a fly on him. "

"Then we'll try, " said the doctor, to the boy's great delight. 

A few minutes later Bostock watched for his chance when the doctor hadgone below, and went up to Carey's chair. 

"Thought you was going to split on me, sir, " he whispered. 

"Then I was right?" said Carey. 

"Well, what was the good o' us going and leaving you behind, my lad?You wouldn't ha' liked that?"

"No, " said the boy, drawing a deep breath, as he looked half-wonderinglyat the rough old sailor, and thought something about good-heartednessand kindly thought, as he said aloud:

"No, Bob, I don't think I should have liked that. "

CHAPTER NINE. 

The raft was not launched the next morning, and Bostock did not evenbegin to make preparations with the blocks and pulleys for getting itover the side. 

Carey was rather restless when he went to bed, the thought of the comingchange and the idea of gliding over the smooth waters of the lagoonproducing in his still weak state enough excitement to keep him awakefor hours, so that it was well on towards morning before he went offsoundly to sleep; but when he was once off he slept as if he meant toindulge himself for eight-and-forty hours. 

"Hullo!" he cried when he awoke, "anything the matter?"

For he found the doctor sitting reading close to his berth. 

"Matter? No, I hope not, " replied the doctor, closing his book. "Had agood rest?"

"Yes, I have been sound asleep. What made you call me so early?"

"Early, eh? What time do you suppose it is?"

Carey glanced towards the round window, which looked dim and grey, andthe cabin quite gloomy. 

"I don't know, " he said. "Close upon sunrise, I suppose. "

"Close upon mid-day. Don't you hear the rain?"

"Rain? Yes, I was wondering what it was. "

"A regular tropical downpour. No going ashore to-day. "

"Oh, how tiresome! I say, though, why did you let me sleep so long?"

"Because Nature said you wanted rest. It was better to let you haveyour sleep out. "

"But it will soon clear up, will it not?"

"I'm thinking it will not, " said the doctor. 

He thought right, for on and off the downpour lasted a fortnight, withstorm after storm of thunder and lightning, and the occupants of thestranded vessel were kept close prisoners, only getting a short visitoccasionally to the drenched deck, where Carey used his glass to watchthe torrent ashore, which had grown into a tremendous fall, whose roarcame like muffled thunder to his ears. 

"It's horribly disappointing, " he said, gloomily, on the fourteenth day. "I did so want to go ashore. "

"Out of evil comes good, " said the doctor, cheerily. "You have hadanother fortnight's enforced rest, and it has done wonders towards theknitting up of the bone. "

"No, " said the boy, quickly, "it's not so well. It aches more than everto-day. "

"That's only from the weather, " said the doctor, laughing. "I daresayyou will feel aching sensations like that for months to come, wheneverthere's a change in the weather. "

Carey looked at him with so pitiful a countenance that the doctorlaughed now heartily. 

"I don't see anything to laugh at, " said the boy. 

"Bah! you don't mind a little pain. Come, cheer up; this long wait hasbeen all for the best. You are a wonderful deal stronger now. "

"But look here, Doctor Kingsmead, " said the boy, earnestly; "am I reallybetter and stronger, or are you saying that to comfort me?"

"I am saying it because it is the simple truth. "

"Ha!" ejaculated Carey, and his face lit up, and then grew brighterstill, for the sun came out, glorifying everything, the clouds werefloating off the hills so that they could once more be seen, lookingdazzlingly green, and the island, as far as they could see, appeared tentimes more beautiful than ever. 

"You'll have the raft lowered at once now?" cried Carey, eagerly. 

"What, while everything is still drenched with rain? No, let's waittill to-morrow. "

"And then it may be raining again. "

"I think not, " said the doctor. "Use your glass a little, and you'llsee that everything ashore is so saturated that we could not go a dozenyards without being drenched. "

"It does look rather wet, " said Carey, grudgingly; but he soonbrightened up, and looked on while the doctor got out his gun andcleaned a few specks of rust from the barrel, while that afternoonBostock prepared everything for the launching, getting done in such goodtime that, as there were a couple of hours' more daylight, it wasdecided to try and get the raft over the side. 

It looked cumbersome enough, but there was no difficulty in levering italong the deck by means of capstan bars, after which the rope runningthrough the block high up was made fast to one side, and the doctor andBostock began to haul: but the effect was not satisfactory, and Bostockstopped and scratched his head. 

"Here, let me help, " cried Carey; but the doctor roared at him, and theboy wrinkled up his brow. 

"Well, " said the doctor, when, after hauling one side up a little, theyhad lowered it again. 

"Seems to me, sir, " said the old sailor, "that we've got our work cutout to haul her up and lower her down. "

"Yes, we want a couple of men to help, " said the doctor. 

"And we aren't got 'em, " growled Bostock. 

"Why don't you haul one side up till the raft's edgewise, and then workit out through the gangway with the levers till it overbalances andtumbles in?" said Carey. 

"Ah, to be sure, sir, " said Bostock, mopping his dripping face; "whydon't we?"

"What, and shake the thing all to pieces with the fall?" said thedoctor. 

"Nay, nay, nay, sir; don't you say such a word as that, " grumbledBostock. "I don't do my work like that. I took lots o' time over her, didn't I, Master Carey?"

"You did, Bob, " said the boy, with a queer cock of one eye. 

"Consekens is, she's as strong as can be. "

"You think it would hold together then?" said the doctor. 

"Sure on it, sir. "

"Let's try, then. "

The rope was fastened, the capstan bars were seized, and in a fewminutes, as the two men turned, the rope tightened, the raft graduallyrose, and soon after stood up edgewise, resting on two of the cornertubs, and without the slightest disposition to topple over. Then therope was slackened so as to allow enough to act as a painter to moor theunwieldy framework to the side, levers were seized, and inch by inch itwas hitched along the deck to the gangway, and then on and on till aquarter of it was outside, when there was a halt for inspection to seeif all was right for it to fall clear. 

Bostock declared that it was, but the doctor shook his head. 

"It is my belief, " he said, "that it will turn wrong side up when itfalls. "

"I believe it will tumble all to pieces, " cried Carey, mischievously. 

"If she do I'll eat my hat, " growled Bostock. "Let's have her in andchance it, sir. Mebbe if she falls topsy-wopsy we can get the capstanto work and turn her back again. "

"Well, we'll try, " replied the doctor. 

"Come on then, sir, " said the old sailor, picking up the capstan baragain; "and you stand well back, Master Carey. We don't want to breakyou again if she topples over. "

The boy drew back and the levers were thrust in beneath, and once morethe raft began to move inch by inch outside the gangway. 

"Both together, sir, " cried the old sailor; "easy it is--heave ho--heavyho--steady--ay, oh! One, two, three, and a cheerily ho! One more, sir. Two more, sir. Yo, ho, ho, and lock out; over she goes!"

For the clumsy structure was hitched on and on till it was pretty wellon the balance. Then a couple more touches did the business, for thehalf projecting through the gangway began to sink, overbalancing moreand more till all at once, after hanging for a moment as if suspended inthe air, it plunged outward, falling with a tremendous splash, sendingthe spray flying in all directions; and then, to the delight of all, after seeming to hesitate as it rose, turning over and floating high outof the water and right way up. 

Carey gave a hearty cheer, while Bostock threw down his capstan bar witha rattle on the deck. 

"Play up, you lubber!" he shouted to an imaginary fiddler, as he foldedhis arms and then dashed off in the sailor's hornpipe, dancingfrantically for a couple of minutes, and ending with three stamps and abow and scrape. 

"Now then, " he cried, panting hard with his exertions, "did she tumbleall to pieces, sir? I knowed better than that. "

"Capital, Bostock, " said the doctor. "It floats splendidly, but will itbear all three?"

"Will it bear all three, sir? Yes, and a ton o' stuff as well. Here, just you wait a minute. "

He ran and got hold of the rope, hauled the raft alongside, and made itfast, before sliding down on to the raft, where he repeated his hornpipeperformance, the buoyant framework rising and falling a little, butseeming as safe as could be. 

"There, " he cried, shouting up breathlessly to those looking out fromthe gangway; "it seems to me that she's far safer than any boat I couldmake, and you can pole her, or row her, or put up a sail, and goanywhere on her; but, you know, I don't say as she'll be fast. No; Idon't say that. "

"You ought to be proud of your work, Bob, " cried Carey, laughing. 

"Proud on her, sir? I just am. Them tubs are good uns; no fear o' themleaking for years. "

"Leaking for years, Carey, " said the doctor, in a low tone of voice; "hespeaks as if he were quite settled down to staying here. "

"Well, it will be nice, " said the boy. "I mean, " he added, hastily, "for a month or two, for, of course, we expect to be fetched away soon. "

"Yes, " said the doctor; "of course we expect to be fetched away soon. "

The doctor turned away and went down into the cabin, leaving the boylooking after him. 

"How strangely he spoke, " thought Carey; "just as if he didn't like whatI said. Of course, I don't want to stay here, but to go on to Brisbaneto see _them_. Only, after being shut up like a cripple so long, it'snatural to want to go ashore on this island and see what the place islike. I say, Bob, " he cried, going to the side, "do you think there's avolcano--a burning mountain, up yonder where the clouds hang so low?"

"Might be anything, sir. I shouldn't be a bit surprised. You neverknow what you're going to find in an island where nobody's been before. "

"Want a hand up?"

"Nay, sir; I can swarm up the rope. We must lower down some steps, though, so as we can haul 'em up again of a night and keep out thesavages as might come in their canoes. "

"Savages? Canoes? Do you think there are any, Bob?"

"One never knows, sir. I don't think there's any here now, or we shouldhave seen some of 'em; but they goes wandering about far enough, andthey might turn up any time. Rather nasty ones they are, too, off thewest coast and to norrard there, Noo Guinea. There we are, " hecontinued, climbing on deck. "Won't take me long to-morrow morningputting on the oars, poles, and mast, and the bit o' sail we have made. "

"Then we shall go to-morrow morning?"

"If it keeps fine, " said the old sailor, shading his eyes and lookinground. "And fine weather it is, my lad, as far as I can see. "

CHAPTER TEN. 

The old sailor was right--fine weather it was: and after a heavy mealand providing themselves with another in a basket, they stepped down onto the raft, where Bostock had rigged up a mast, and pushed off fromtheir home, which lay looking enormous from where they stood. 

The doctor had passed judgment that if Carey did not exert himself hemight do a little in the way of going about. He was bandaged still anddebarred from using one arm at all; but as he half-lay on the raftlooking round he was ready to declare that he would have liked to comeeven with both arms bandaged to his sides, for it was glorious on thatsunny morning, with the air clear and soft, the sky of an intense blue, and the water, over which they glided very slowly, looking like crystal. 

The square sail had been hoisted; it filled out slowly and, obeying thelong rough oar which Bostock used as a scull, the raft behavedsplendidly, leaving the long dark hull of the steamer behind, andsteadily nearing the yellow stretch of sand backed by an enormouscocoanut grove. 

There were birds circling overhead and flock after flock flying aboutthe shore, which grew more beautiful each minute; but before they hadglided far over the lagoon, Carey's attention was taken up by theshallowness of the water, and he reached out over the side to gaze inwonder through the perfectly limpid medium at what seemed to be a gardenof flowers of the most beautiful and varied tints. There were groves, too, of shrubs, whose branches were of delicate shades of lavender, yellow, orange, and purple, and through the waving sea growths fishes, gorgeous in gold, orange, scarlet, and blue, flashed in the softenedsunshine, as they were startled by the coming of the raft. 

Bostock was very busy piloting their craft, but he was referred to fromtime to time as a mine of knowledge to be worked, for the old sailor hadlong been acquainted with the Eastern Seas, and had been fairlyobservant for an uneducated man. 

Hence he was able to point out the fact that there were thousands of thegreat pearl-oysters clustering about the coral reefs which looked soshrub-like below. 

"Look here, doctor, " cried the boy, excitedly; "it's just like a lovelygarden. "

"Exactly, " said the doctor; "a garden that lives and grows without asoul to admire its beauties. "

"No, we're admiring them, sir, " said Carey, promptly. 

"But most likely we are the first white people who ever saw them. "

"Don't let the raft go so quickly, Bob, " cried Carey; "we want to have along, long look at the things now we have found them. Look, doctor; oh, do look! there was a fish glided by all of a watch-spring blue, with agreat bar across it like a gold-fish's. "

"You are missing those flowers, " said the doctor. 

"No, I see them, " cried the boy, with his face close to the water. "Seaanemones; clusters of them like those I've seen in Cornwall, only tentimes as handsome. Look there, too, lying on the patch of sand there, seven or eight, oh! and there's one--a five-pointed one, scarlet, crimson, and orange-brown; but they don't seem to have any feelers. "

"No; those must be star-fish--sea stars. "

"Beautiful, " cried the boy, who was half-wild with excitement. "Oh, what a pity we are going so fast! Look at all this lilac coral; why, there must be miles of it. "

"Hunderds o' miles, sir, " growled Bostock. 

"Yes, it's very pretty to look at, and if you touch it, it feels soft asjelly outside; but it has a bad way o' ripping holes in the bottoms ofships. Copper and iron's nothing to it. Goes right through 'em. Ah!that coral's sent hunderds o' fine vessels to the bottom o' the sea, thesea. `And she sank to the bottom o' the sea. '"

The old sailor broke into song at the end of his remarks, with a portionof a stave of "The Mermaid"; but singing was not his strong point, andhe made a noise partaking a good deal of a melodious croak. 

"This is a famous region for coral reefs, I suppose, Bostock, " said thedoctor. 

"Orfle, sir. Why, as soon as you gets round the corner yonder, going toBrisbane, they call it the Coral Sea, and there you get the GreatBarrier Reef, all made of this here stuff. "

"More of those great oysters, " said Carey. "I say, Bob, are they goodto eat?"

"Not half bad, sir, as you shall say. They make first-rate soup, andthat aren't a thing to be sneezed at. "

"Then we shan't starve, " said Carey, laughing. 

"Starve, sir? No. I can see plenty of good fish to be had out o' thislagoon. "

"But are these the oysters they gather for the mother-o'-pearl?" askedthe doctor. 

"Them's those, sir, and it seems to me here's a fortune to be madegathering of 'em. Why, they fetches sixty and seventy pound a ton, andthe big uns'll weigh perhaps ten or twelve pound a pair. "

"Then we must collect some, Carey, ready to take away with us when wego. "

"And that aren't all, sir, " continued the old sailor; "when you come toopen 'em you finds pearls inside 'em, some of 'em worth ever so much. "

"Oh, doctor, what a place we've come to, " said Carey, excitedly. "Isn'tit lucky we were wrecked?"

"That's a matter of opinion, my boy, " said the doctor, drily. 

"'Scuse me, Master Carey, sir, " said the old sailor, with a peculiarsmile. 

"Excuse you--what for?"

"What I'm going to say, sir, " said the old fellow, as he leaned againstthe handle of the big oar as he steered. "You've got a verynice-looking nose, sir. It's a bit big for your size, but it's a nicetempting-looking nose all the same. "

"Is it?" said Carey, shortly, and his disengaged hand went up to theorgan in question. "I daresay it is. I don't know; but why do you wantto meddle with it?"

"I don't, sir; I only want to keep anything else from having a go atit. "

"What is likely to have a `go' at it, as you say?"

"Young shark might be tempted, sir. "

"Pooh! Nonsense! But are there sharks in this lagoon?"

"Thousands, I'll be bound, sir. So don't you never try to bathe. Whatdo you say to running up between those two bits of bare reef, sir--sorto' canal-like place? We could run right up to the sand there. "

"Try it, " said the doctor, and the raft was steered between the longridges of coral, whose points stood just out of the water. Carey hadthe satisfaction of seeing that there was a shoal of fish being drivenalong the watery passage to the shallow at the end, over which theysplashed and floundered till they reached deep water again and swamaway. 

"Some o' they would have done for the frying-pan, sir, if we'd had a nethandy, " said Bostock. "We must come prepared another time. "

The raft grounded the next minute in what seemed to be a magnificentmarine aquarium, into the midst of whose wonders the old sailor steppedto mid-thigh, crunching shells and beautiful pieces of coral in a waywhich made Carey shiver. 

"All right, sir, there's millions more, " he said, coolly. "Now, doctor, there's no need for you to step down, " he continued; "it's wonderfulslimy, and there's shells and things sharp enough to cut through yourboots. You give me the guns and basket, and I'll take 'em up on thesands and come back for you. I'm more used to the water than you are. "

The doctor nodded and handed the two double guns they had brought, alongwith the basket of provisions, with which Bostock waded ashore, returning directly to take the doctor on his back, after which he cameagain for Carey. 

"Hadn't I better wade ashore?" said the boy; "one ought to get used tothis sort of thing. "

"After a bit, my lad, " said Bostock, shaking his head. "You get used togrowing quite well first. Now then, you stand up close here, and I'llnip you ashore in no time. "

"Well, turn round then; I can't get on your back like that. "

"You're not going to get on my back, my lad. I'm going to take you inmy arms and carry you. "

"Like a little child, " cried Carey, pettishly. 

"No, like a hinwalid who won't take a bit of care of his tender bones. Lor'-a-mussy, how orbsnit youngsters can be! Don't yer want to getwell?"

"All right, " said Carey, gruffly. "Don't drop me in the water: I'mprecious heavy. "

"Now, is it likely, my lad?" growled the old fellow, taking the lad upgently and starting for the shore. "I'm not going to let you down, sodon't you--here, steady there--steady!"

Carey burst out into an uncontrollable roar of merriment, for Bostock'sright foot suddenly slipped on the slimy shell of one of the greatpearl-oysters, and he was as near going headlong as possible; but bymaking a tremendous effort he saved himself and his burden and hurriedpanting to the shore. 

"Have I hurt you, my lad?" he cried, excitedly, perspiration startingout in great drops on his face. "No, not a bit, " said Carey, merrily. "Phew! I thought I'd done it, sir. Now, you see, that comes of beingtoo cocksure. Thought I knowed better, but I didn't. Now, are you sureyou aren't hurt?"

"Quite, Bob, " said Carey, wiping his eyes. "Well, you needn't laugh somuch, sir. "

"I can't help it, " cried Carey, indulging in another hearty burst. "There, I'm better now. "

The doctor, who had at once walked off towards the great grove ofcocoanuts with a gun on his shoulder, now returned. 

"Plenty of birds, Carey, my lad, " he said; "cocoanuts by the thousand, and through yonder, where you can hear it roaring, there is an amplesupply of fresh water. You can see from here where it runs through thesand. Now, the first thing I want to know is whether we are on anisland, and the second, have we any savage neighbours. "

"Let's go up the hills and take a good look round then, " suggestedCarey. 

"That is the way to find out, of course; but it would be like so muchmadness for you to attempt such a climb. "

"Would it, sir?"

"Yes, for some time to come. You are getting on so well that I don'twant you to be driven back by over-exertion. "

"But I could try and give up if I got tired. "

"Yes, but I don't want you to grow tired, so you must content yourselfhere. There is plenty to see along the shore here. "

"And suppose a lot of blacks come while you are away. "

"Pick up the gun I shall leave with you; they will not face that. But Ihave no fear of that happening. I feel sure that there are noinhabitants. Still, I only feel so, and I want to be perfectlycertain. "

"You'll be ever so long, " said Carey, gloomily, "and it will not be verypleasant to be quite alone. All right, though, sir, I don't mind. "

"You are not going to be alone, " said the doctor, quietly. "Bostockwill stay with you. "

"Oh, but that will not be right, " cried the boy, eagerly. "Who knowswhat dangers you may run into?"

"I have my gun, and I daresay I can take care of myself. "

"But you ought to take Bostock with you, doctor. "

"I think not: and besides, as we have to divide our force it ought to bedone as equally as possible. There, I shall take six hours for myexpedition--that is to say, if it is necessary--and I shall go straightaway for three hours, and then turn back. "

"And suppose you lose yourself?"

"I have no fear of that, " said the doctor. "But don't you go far ineither direction. Consider that you have to guard the raft till I comeback. "

Carey felt ready to make fresh objections, but the doctor gave him notime. He stepped to the provision basket, took out one of the breadcakes that Bostock made every other morning, thrust it into his pocket, and gave his patient a final word or two of advice. 

"Don't be tempted to over-heat yourself in the sun, " he said. "Get intothe shade of the grove here if you begin to grow tired, " and, shouldering his gun, he stepped off through the sand, disappearingdirectly after among the trees, but only to step back and shout:

"I shall try and follow the stream as near as I can to its source in thelake that must be up yonder. _Au revoir_. "

He disappeared once more, and Carey and Bostock stood looking at oneanother on the sandy shore. 

CHAPTER ELEVEN. 

"What's that here mean as the doctor said, sir?" growled Bostock, whenthe last rustle of the growth made by their companion died out. 

"Till you see me again, " said Carey. 

"Why couldn't he say it in plain English so as a man could understandhim?"

"Don't know, " said Carey, shortly. "Ask him when he comes back. "

Bostock chuckled and shook his head. 

"I'd a deal rather we'd kep' together, sir, " he said; "but I dessay heknows best. So we've got to wait six hours--six hours' watch, and wemustn't go very far away. Well, it's a very pretty place, and thesand's soft, and I mean to have some of them cocoanuts by-and-by. "

"How are you going to get at them?" said Carey, looking up at the trees. "I suppose I mustn't try to climb one. "

"Not likely. "

"Well, I don't believe you could. "

"Dunno, " said the old fellow. "I'm thinking I can if I uses a sort o'stirrup. "

"What's that?"

"I'll show you bime-by. Well, what shall we do?"

"I'm going to get out on one of those coral rocks and have a good lookat the pools of water and the things in them. Perhaps collect someshells. "

"Why not?" said Bostock. "I've got the bucket yonder, and one of theaxes. We might collect a lot to take on board, and the oysters'll dofor soup. "

"Oh, you mean the pearl shells. "

"Yes; didn't you, sir?"

"No, I meant any kind: but let's try for some of those big shells andopen them. We may find some pearls. "

"That's right, Master Carey, and when you're tired o' that look here. "

He gave the boy a knowing look, and took a roll of long stout line outof one pocket, a leaden weight and a cork stuck full of fish-hooks outof the other. 

"Fishing-tackle, " cried Carey, eagerly. 

"That's right. When we've got some oysters for bait we'll get out onthe raft again, shove her off to the end of that bit of a canal, and tryafter a fish. "

"Oh, we're not going to be dull, " cried Carey, eagerly. 

"Dull, not us; why, it'll be six hours before we know where we are. Come on. "

The old sailor went back to the nearest spot to the raft, carefullyexamined the rope, which was fastened round a block of coral, and thenwaded out to the rough construction and returned with the bucket and asmall axe. 

"Now then, " he said; "you keep here where it's dry, and I'll go and seewhat I can find. "

He had little seeking to do, merely to wade amongst the fragments ofcoral and pick up pair after pair of the great molluscs, which he had nodifficulty in detaching; and before long he had a score, which hecarried to a spot on the rock which seemed suitable. 

"You feel what a weight they are, " he said, and Carey took up a couplewhich were about the size of pudding plates. 

"They are heavy, " cried Carey. "Why, you could soon collect a ton. "

"Dessay I could, sir; but do you know the best way to open 'em?"

"Force a knife in between the shells. "

"And break the knife, " said the old sailor, chuckling. "No, there's abetter way than that. Lay 'em out in the sun away from the water, andthey soon open their mouths and gape. "

"But then they die and go bad. "

"That's right, sir; they do, and smell lovely. That's the way to do itbest. "

"But you can't eat bad oysters. "

"Not likely, sir. I'm going to open these with the axe, and after we'vefelt whether they've got any pearls in 'em we shall put the soft fish inthe bucket of clean water and take 'em back for cooking. Here goes. I've seen how it's done before now. "

He took one of the oysters, laid it in a particular way upon the rock, gave it a smart blow over the muscular hinge, and then, taking advantageof the half-paralysed mollusc, he managed to get the edge of the axebetween the shells, wriggled it about a little, and then, mastering theopposition offered by the singular creature within, he wrenched the twoshells apart and used his knife to scrape out the flesh of the oyster, felt it well over and then thrust it into the bucket, which he halffilled with the clear water. 

"How many pearls?" said Carey. 

"Not one, sir. "

"I thought not. But I say, Bob, that's a precious nasty job. "

"Not it, sir. I don't mind. Done worse than this. "

"And the oyster looks horribly messy. "

"It won't when it's made into soup. But I say, nice shells, aren'tthey?"

"Beautiful, " said Carey, who was examining them. "So these are to cutup for mother-o'-pearl?"

"Yes, sir, and to make shirt buttons. "

Bang! a wrench with the axe, and another fat oyster was cut out and theshells cast aside, before a fresh search was made for pearls, butwithout result. 

"Not much luck, Bob, " said Carey. 

"What! Look at these two shells; and there goes another oyster for thepot. Reg'lar fat one. I do call it luck. Bet a penny we do betterwith the oysters and the tackle for the soup than the doctor does. Besides, we're going to ketch some fish. "

It was very pleasant sitting there in the sunshine, with thecocoanut-trees waving and bending in the soft breeze to his right, thecalm lagoon, dazzling in its brightness, to his left, and away beyond itthe silver spray of the breakers thundering softly upon the coral reef. Then, too, there was a submarine garden in every pool, and a luxury ofbeauty on all sides, even to his very feet. The only thing which seemedrepellent to Carey was the growing heap of pearl shells, and the workupon which Bostock was engaged, which the boy looked upon with disgust. 

"Bah!" he exclaimed at last; "you're a regular oyster butcher, Bob. It's horribly messy. "

"Don't you call things by ugly names, Master Carey, " said the old man, stolidly. "Butchers aren't a nice trade sartinly, but think of theconsekenses. Think on it, my lad. Who's got a word to say agin thebutcher when there's a prime joint o' juicy roast beef on the table, with the brown fat and rich gravy. Ah! it seems sad, it do. "

"What, to kill the oxen?"

"Nay, not it. They was made to be killed. I meant having all thatbeautiful stock o' coal on board, and the cook's stove ready, and nobeef to roast. There, you needn't look at my messy hands; I shall wash'em when I've done. You look at the insides of them big shells; they'rejust like to-morrow morning when you've got the watch on deck and thesun's just going to rise. I've seen the sky like that lots o' times, all silver and gold, and pale blue and grey. I say, seems a pity; we'vegot lots o' crockery ware in the stooard's place. Them shells wouldmake lovely plates, painted ten hunderd times better than those we'vegot aboard. It's just as if natur had made 'em o' purpose. Just thinkof it eating--or drinking: which do you call it?--soup, oyster soup, outof an oyster shell, enjoying the look o' the shell with your eyes. There, that's the last of 'em, " he continued, as he wrenched open thelast pair of shells. 

"But I expected we were going to get some pearls as well, and out ofthese twenty great oysters you haven't got one. "

"Haven't I?" cried the old sailor, with a hearty chuckle. "Just youfeel here. "

"I'm not going to mess my hand with the nasty thing, " said Carey, with alook of disgust. 

"Who wants you to, sir? Only wants the tip o' one finger. Here youare. Yes, and here, and here. I say, what do you think of that?" criedthe old fellow, reaching out the shell he held. "Just one finger andyou'll feel 'em, nubbly like. "

"Pearls!" cried Carey, excitedly, and, forgetting all about themessiness of the great wet shapeless-looking mollusc, he used bothfinger and thumb. "Here, cut them out. "

This was soon done, and the boy sat with his face flushed, gazing withdelight at three beautifully lustrous pearls lying in the palm of hishand glistening in the bright sunshine, one being of the size of a largepea, and the others of good-sized shot. 

"Beauties, aren't they, sir?"

"Lovely, " cried Carey, who, recovering as he was from a painful illness, was full of appreciation of everything he saw. "Yes, they are lovely;and only to think of it, if we had not found them they would have lainthere and perhaps never have been seen. "

"Like enough, my lad. There must be millions and millions about here. "

"Yes, " said the boy, with a sigh. "Here, put them in your pocket, Bob, "and he held them to his companion as if wanting to get them out ofsight. 

"What for? Aren't you got one?"

"Yes, but you found them; they're yours. "

"Nay, we found 'em; and besides, I'm only a common sailor, and like yourservant. You keep 'em. "

"It wouldn't be fair, Bob, " said Carey. "You have the best right tothem. "

"Tchah! They're no good to me. I should on'y sell 'em to somebody ifever we got away, for the price of a pound o' 'bacco as would go awayall in smoke. Once upon a time I should ha' took 'em home to my oldmother. Now I aren't got one, and you have. So you have 'em made intoa ring some day, with the big un in the middle and the little uns one oneach side. "

"Shall I, Bob?"

"O' course. There. Now I shall just sink that bucket in the clear, cool water so as the soup stuff keeps good. There we are, and thosebits o' clean coral to keep 'em down. Now I washes my hands in thatlittle bit of a rock basin and they aren't a bit messy; dries 'em in thehot sand, and now what do you say to trying for a bit o' fish?"

"Capital, " cried Carey, excitedly. 

"On'y I tell you what; we'll tie one end of the line to the raft, sothat you can let go if we get hold of a big un. I'm not going to haveyou hauling and hurting your sore place. "

"That will be all right. "

"No, it won't, unless you promise you'll let go if it's a big un. "

"I promise, " said Carey, "for I don't believe we shall catch any. "

"Well, there's something in that, " said the old sailor, "for the numbero' times a man goes fishing and don't ketch nothing's a thing to thinkon. "

Bostock talked a great deal, but he was not like a gardener, who somehowcan never answer a question without stopping short; say, if he isdigging, driving the spade into the ground, resting one foot upon it, and resting his fist upon the handle. Bob Bostock's hands were alwaysbusy, and while he was chatting about the fish he was picking up a fewdamaged scraps of shelly oyster, laying them in a shell for bait, andthen preparing the line by tying on the lead and a good-sized hook. 

"Now then, my lad; ready?" he cried. 

"Oh, yes, I'm ready and waiting, " replied the boy. "I say, doesn't itmake you feel in good spirits to be out here? I should like to run andshout. "

"Then you just won't, my lad. But it do seem jolly and comf'table like. I feel as if I could sit down and whistle for hours. Now then, don'tyou get that line tangled. I've laid it all in a hank ready to run out;and don't ram them hooks in your fingers, because they're hard to cutout. Now, you carry them and the shell o' bait and I'll carry you. "

"No, no; I'll take off my shoes and socks, and tuck up my trousers. "

"Tucking up wouldn't do. You'd have to take 'em off, and then you'd cutyour feet on the sharp coral. You're going to do what I sez. "

"I say, Bob, what an old tyrant you are! Just you wait till I get welland can do as I like. "

"All right, my lad; I'm waiting. Then you can do as you like, but youcan't yet. Here, you be off. None o' them games, or I shall have toshoot you. "

"No, I shall, " said Carey. 

"Nay, that you won't, " growled the old sailor. "I'm not going to standby while you fires that gun as'll kick and upset your shoulder again. "

"Bother my shoulder!" cried Carey, impatiently, and he leaned back togaze up at two beautiful grey and white gulls which for the last fewminutes had been sailing gracefully round them and coming nearer andnearer, watching the two strangers curiously the while. 

"They're after the oysters, Bob, " said Carey. 

"Yes, smells 'em, or sees 'em. Birds have got wonderful eyes andnoses. "

"Beaks, Bob, " said Carey, laughing. 

"Smellers, then, my lad. Well, they can't get at the soup meat in thebucket, and they only clean the shells, so we'll let 'em alone. Nowthen, up you come. "

The next minute Bostock was wading out to the raft with Carey in hisarms, after which he poled their clumsy craft out to the end of the twocoral ridges which formed the little canal. 

As soon as he had made fast, the hook was carefully baited, the linelaid in rings with one end fastened to a plank, and with a gentle swingthe lead thrown out into a clear spot, to fall with a splash in thesmooth water, forming rings which ever widened as they glided away. 

"I wonder whether there are any fish there, " said Carey, and then hestarted in astonishment, for there was quite a little wave raised as, with a rush, a shoal of fish made for the bait. 

"Got him?" cried Bostock, as there was a tug at the line. 

"Yes--no--no--yes, " panted Carey, and there was a heavy pull as a fishmade for the open water, its actions sending its companions flying outof the water, some even leaping out and falling back with a splash. 

Carey held on, but with a sudden quick action Bostock caught hold of theline behind the boy's hand. 

"Oh, Bob!" cried the lad, appealingly. 

"Too heavy for you alone, sir. 'Sides, you've only got one hand to workwith. You go on, sir; I'm on'y easing it for you, and you know youcouldn't haul him in yourself. That's the way; don't let him run. Nowthen, in with him, and think you're a three-handed man. "

The captive made some bold dashes for liberty, but in vain, and a minutehad not elapsed before it was lifted on to the raft, proving to be afish of four or five pounds' weight, in dazzlingly beautiful armour ofsilver and steel-like blue, one which needed handling carefully onaccount of an exceedingly sharp saw-like back fin, which was strokedcarefully down before Bostock extracted the hook. 

"Looks as if he ought to be good to eat, sir. "

"It's a beauty, " cried Carey, excitedly. 

"I dunno, " said Bostock, stolidly, as he rebaited the hook. 

"Nonsense; look at the silver and pearl and steel-blue on its sides. "

"Ah, but some of these furren fish are poisonous, sir. "

"I was thinking about its beauty, " said Carey, impatiently. 

"Was you, sir? I was thinking about the frying-pan. He'd be all weshould want, but we'd better try for another in case the doctor thinksthis one not good to eat. "

"Oh, yes, try for some more. I wish Doctor Kingsmead were here, though, to help. I wonder where he is now. "

"Ay. Wonder how he's getting on, and what he has found. There, if thatisn't a tempting bait, don't know what is. Line all free?"

"Yes. "

"Then off we go again, " said Bostock, and once more the lead went flyingin a low curve over the glistening water, to fall with a gentle splash. 

There was a wave raised in the shallow directly, and in less time thanbefore, and ere the bait could have reached the bottom, it was seizedand the line ran out, to give Carey's arm a heavy jerk and elicit a cryof pain. 

"Hurt you much, my lad?" cried Bostock, as he made a snatch and caughtthe line. 

"Yes, rather, " said the lad. "You're right, Bob; I'm not quite strongthere yet. "

"No wonder it gave you a nip, sir, " cried the man, excitedly. "This isa regular ram_pay_ger. My word! look at him; he's going all over theplace. "

"Let the line run, " cried Carey, excitedly, and quite forgetting thepain. 

"Nay, he aren't a whale, sir; but from the games he's playing he mightbe a shark four or five foot long. I'll tire him out though. I say, sir, you ought to be glad you aren't got hold; line reg'larly cuts intomy hand. Look at that now. I say, sir, we shan't want for something onthe table. Strikes me there hasn't been anyone fishing here lately. "

There was a grim smile on the old sailor's face, as he stood thereeasing the line a little, as the fish darted here and there in the mostvigorous way, and would have broken free had not the sailor's arms actedlike yielding springs. 

The playing of that fish lasted what seemed to be five minutes, and itsdarts and rushes were as vigorous as ever when all of a sudden itgathered up its forces and made a rush into shallow water amongst thecoral, some of which bristled above the surface. Then they had a goodsight of its size and gleaming golden scales, for it leaped a good twofeet out of the water, came down with a heavy splash and jerk, and thenext minute Bostock was hauling in what was left of the line, fullyhalf, with lead and hook, having been borne away. 

"Oh--oh!" groaned Carey, giving utterance to that sound so full ofdisappointment peculiar to fishermen. 

"Ay, 'tis a pity, sir, " said Bostock, "such a fine fish too. Reg'largolden-red. "

"Yes; what was it?"

"Can't say, sir. I don't think, " he added, with a grim smile, "that itwas a red herring. "

"But you should have let it run. "

"Didn't want it, sir; he took the bit in his teeth, and he has run. "

"I mean eased it and wearied it out. "

"Yes, sir, I s'pose so; but I aren't big at fishing. Wait a bit, andyou'll have your turn. How's your shoulder?"

"Oh, that does not hurt now, but I do feel rather queer. "

"No wonder, " said the old sailor, looking at the boy searchingly as heringed up the remainder of the fishing-line. "Let's get ashore. "

"Oh no. Try for another fish. "

"Can't, sir; he's taken away my lead sinker, and I don't think we couldketch one on the surface; besides, my line's too short. "

There was nothing to say to this, so the raft was unmoored again andpoled back to its old place with alacrity, made fast, the fish rolled upin some wet seaweed, and then Bostock turned with a grim smile to hisyoung companion. 

"Feel no better, sir, " he said. 

"No, Bob; if anything, worse. "

"And it aren't your shoulder?"

"No, " sighed Carey; "I feel faint and sinking. I suppose it was fromthe shock of the pain. "

"I don't, sir, " said the old fellow, gruffly. "I know what's the matterwith you. "

"What is it, then?" said Carey, rather anxiously. 

"You've got the eight bells complaint, sir. "

"What do you mean?" said Carey, suspiciously. 

"Dinner-time, sir; that's what's the matter with you. "

"Absurd. It can't be dinner-time yet. "

"Can't it, sir? Doctor's been gone hours. Just you look up at thesun. "

It was undoubtedly beyond its highest point, and as he gradually graspedthe truth of his companion's words, though feeling no better, Carey'sdespondency passed away, and he became cheerful. 

Soon after, as the pair sat together in the shade of the cocoanut grove, eating the lunch they had brought with the greatest of enjoyment, theweary symptoms passed rapidly away, and the boy was himself again. 

"I say, Bob, " he said, "we must have one of those cocoanuts. Couldn'tyou knock one down by throwing the hatchet?"

"P'raps it would be throwing the hatchet, sir, if I said I could, " saidthe old fellow, with a grim smile. "But I'll try soon. I say, I wonderhow the doctor's getting on. "

"So do I. I wish he were here to have some lunch. "

Carey had his wish a few minutes later, for there was a loud hail fromthe open, and Carey replied to it and hurried out from the shade wherethey were hidden, to find the doctor half-way down to the raft with hisgun over his shoulder and a brace of huge crowned pigeons hanging fromthe barrel by their tied-together legs. 

CHAPTER TWELVE. 

Doctor Kingsmead said nothing about his adventures until he had made ahearty meal and grown cooler. Then he began to talk cheerily. 

"Something for you to cook, Bostock, " he said; "they'll make a pleasantchange after so much tinned and salt meat. "

"Where did you shoot those?" asked Carey. 

"Up yonder in the open forest under one of the trees, not far from theriver. There are plenty of them about, and so tame that I feltsatisfied that there were no blacks near. "

"Then you've seen no signs of any, sir?" asked Bostock. 

"Not a sign. "

"That's good, sir, but it don't mean much, for we might have a visitfrom a big canoe-full at any time. "

"How far did you go?" asked Carey. 

"To where the little river glides out of a lake up yonder in the hills. I fancy it must have been the crater of a volcano, for I kicked againstpieces of obsidian and slag. The volcanic glass broke up with edges assharp as a razor. "

"But how far was it to the lake?" asked Carey. 

"Ah, that I can't tell you in miles. In time it was two hours and ahalf hard walking. Coming back, one hour and a half. I was away justabout four hours. "

"Did you get a good view from the lake, sir?"

"No, but I climbed a peak close by it, and from there I could see allround the island. "

"Round the island!" grunted Bostock, nodding. 

"Yes, round the island; and nearly all round it at a distance are reefsof coral, with the rollers breaking upon them in white foam. "

"Then it's only a little place, " said Carey. 

"Yes, only a few miles across. "

"And all ours. Doctor Kingsmead, we ought to take possession of thisplace for our own. But I say, did you see anything wonderful?"

"N-no. Plenty of beautifully coloured birds; lovely flowers inabundance. Beetles and butterflies as beautiful as I ever saw. "

"Any snakes?"

"I saw none, and I should hardly think there would be any; but I saw twocrocodiles. "

"Did you?" cried Carey. "Where--up in the lake?"

"No, directly after I started, in the little river. Monsters. "

"Any fish in the lake?"

"I could not tell. Most likely there would be. But I'm tired with mywalk. I'll tell you more as I think of what I saw. "

"Just one thing, sir, " said Bostock, apologetically. "When you was upatop of the peak, could you see land anywheres?"

"I could not be quite sure, but I think so, in three differentdirections. I certainly saw reefs with the breaking water in severalplaces as far as I could see. I ought to have taken a glass with me. Next time I go up I will. Well, what have you been about?"

Carey eagerly related how they had passed the morning, not forgettingthe fishing and the pearls. 

"Well, " said the doctor, "we shall not starve. Pearl shell and pearls, eh? We must collect and save all we can, and I should think that wecould collect enough cocoanuts to be very valuable, so that when thetime comes for us to leave this place we shall not go empty away. "

The rest of the afternoon was spent leisurely strolling about the shore, for the most part in the shade of the cocoanut grove, a couple of thenuts being cleverly knocked down by throws with the hatchet, usedboomerang fashion, fortunately for the throwers without its displayingany of that weapon's returning qualities. 

They strolled on as far as the mouth of the river, where it glided as ashallow stream into the sea, not without result--a satisfactory one toCarey, who was well in advance, threading his way amongst the masses ofbleached coral which here encumbered the shore. 

Bostock was about to close up with the lad, but the doctor checked him. 

"Let him have the satisfaction of saying that he was the first todiscover the mouth of the river, " he said; but the words were hardly outof his lips when they saw the boy begin to stalk something, for hestopped and crept behind a mass of rock, and then after peeringcautiously round it he crept to another and another till he was hiddenfrom the lookers-on. 

But directly after he re-appeared about a couple of hundred yards away, and signed to them to approach cautiously. 

"Look to your gun, sir, " whispered Bostock, cocking the one he carried. "He's seen a canoe. "

"Think so?" said the doctor, rather excitedly, following the oldsailor's example. 

"I just do, sir, for there's nothing else he's likely to see. Therearen't no wild beasts and things in an island like this. Better lookout. "

Following out Carey's tactics, they crept from rock to rock till theyreached the mass which sheltered Carey, who waited till they were closeup, and then whispered, "Quick! look round that side drawn out on thesands by the water. "

"Then it is, " said the doctor to himself, and troubles with a canoe-loadof blacks rose before his eyes as he advanced to the rock, peered roundone side, while Bostock as cautiously peered round the other, eachoccupying some time, Carey anxiously eager to follow their example, butunable to do so without being seen. 

Quite a couple of minutes had elapsed before the pair drew back, lookedat each other, and then turned to Carey. 

"Well, " he whispered, impatiently, "can't you see it?"

"See what?" whispered back the doctor. "Is that a canoe full ofblacks?"

"No!" cried Carey, in a voice full of disgust; "an enormous crocodile, sleeping in the sun. "

Both looked round the side of the sheltering rock again, and Bostock'shead popped back. 

"There!" said Carey, eagerly. 

"Where?" said Bostock. "There aren't nothing but some bits o' stone andseaweed. "

"Nonsense!" cried Carey, impatiently. "You can see it, can't you, doctor?"

"No, I see nothing, " was the reply. 

"Here, let me look again, " cried Carey, and the doctor made way. 

"Oh!" ejaculated the boy, in a disappointed tone; "it's gone!"

Bostock shook his head solemnly. 

"You're a-getting better, young gen'leman, " he said. 

"Of course I am, " said Carey; "but what do you mean?"

"You shouldn't, sir. There was a young chap once as kep' sheep, andhe'd got a larky sort o' sperrit, and every now and then he used tobegin running, and--"

"Yes, yes, I know, " cried Carey, indignantly; "and cry `wolf! wolf!'But do you think--"

"He's been gammoning on us, sir, " said Bostock to the doctor. 

"I haven't! I wouldn't play such a trick, " cried Carey, indignantly. "There was a great crocodile that looked five-and-twenty or thirty feetlong lying close to the water when I signed to you both to come. Itwasn't twenty feet away. "

"Where 'bouts were it, then, sir?" growled the old fellow, onlyhalf-convinced. 

"Come and see, " cried Carey, and he hurried round the rock, followed byhis companions; but there was apparently no sign of any reptile, tillthe doctor pointed to a great groove in the soft dry sand. 

"Yes, that's where he was, " cried Carey. "Ah! and look here. You cansee the marks of his paws. "

"I see, " cried the doctor. "Yes, Carey, it must have been a monster. "

"Pst! pst!" whispered Bostock, raising his gun, and pointing away totheir right. 

"Don't fire, " said the doctor, hurriedly; "those small shot cartridgesare of no use. See it, Carey?"

"No! Where?"

"Yonder, floating and looking this way. You can only see the monster'seyes. "

"Where--where? Ah, I see; those two knobs close together?"

"Yes; the brute must have taken alarm, and glided back into the river. It is evidently watching us. "

"Beg your pardon, Master Carey. I thought it was games. Well, sir, it's a good job you see that chap. We know he harnts the place. Whoknows but what you might ha' took a fancy to bathe there some day?"

"I was thinking what a beautiful place it would be, because there'd beno fear of sharks in such a shallow place. "

"No sharks perhaps, sir, but they're innocent babies to a thing likethat. Why, he might have swept you in with his tail before you'dundressed yourself. You and clothes and all. "

"What are you going to do?" said the doctor, as the old sailor handedCarey the gun and stooped to pick up a piece of coral as big as achild's head. 

"On'y going to show him, cunning as he is, thinking that he's snugly hidunder water, that we can see him, and that we know what's the meaning oftwo knobs on the water. "

The doctor nodded and looked on, Carey feeling an intense longing tofollow the old sailor's example, but feeling that it would be some timebefore he could throw a heavy stone. 

Meanwhile Bostock walked slowly to the edge of the water, and then alongtowards the sea, reducing the distance till he was not abovefive-and-twenty yards from the floating reptile, when he stopped shortand pitched the lump of coral with pretty good aim; but as it describedan arc and was still in the air, there was a tremendous wallow, a waverose on the surface, and they could trace the course taken by themonster, which, with one tremendous stroke of its powerful tail, glidedright away towards the sea. 

"Wish it had made a dint in his skull, " said Bostock. "Beasts! how I dohate 'em! Dessay there's lots more, so we shall have to take care. "

"How big was it, Bob?" said Carey, triumphantly. 

"Oh, I wouldn't like to say, sir. I've seen a lot of 'em in my time--Africa, Indy, and in Chinee waters, as well as off the east coastyonder; but I should think this must be all you said. P'raps more. "

Satisfied with the day's adventures, they now made for the raft, andwere soon after sailing slowly across to the stranded vessel, where thatevening Bostock was in his glory with the cook's stove sending up acloud of black smoke, and saucepan and frying-pan were well occupied inthe preparation of soup and fish. 

"The pigeons'll have to stay till to-morrow, Master Carey, " he said, confidentially. "But I say, sir, don't say as that hyster soup aren'tgood. "

The lad did not. In fact he was helped twice, while the doctor sent athrill of pride through the old sailor as he made comparisons between itand turtle. 

"Well, no, sir, " said the old fellow, modestly, "not so good as that. Idessay, though, we shall find some turtle floating in this lagoon. Ifwe do we must get one, and then you shall see the difference. "

"Do you think they are likely to be about these shores?"

"Sure to be, sir. We shall see one, I dessay, floating on the water, fast asleep; and I dessay we shall find something else, Master Carey, and if we do, look out. "

"What for?"

"Sea-serpents, sir. I've seen 'em. "

"What! have you seen the sea-serpent?" said Carey, laughing. 

"Ah, I mean the black and yaller ones as basks in the calm sea 'boutthese parts, six, eight, and ten foot long, and as poisonous as any o'them on land; so be on the look-out, sir; I knowed one man as died froma bite. "

CHAPTER THIRTEEN. 

"Oh, do make haste and get me quite well, doctor, " cried Carey. 

"What a fellow you are!" said the doctor, laughing. "I can do no more. "

"Can't you?" said the boy, plaintively. "Oh, do try. I heard thecaptain say one day to one of the passengers that you were one of thecleverest surgeons he ever knew. "

"That was very complimentary of the captain, I'm sure. "

"Then if you are, can't you get my bone mended more quickly? It's somiserable to be like this. "

"Why, you told me last night after our supper that you never enjoyed aday more in your life. Surely you had adventures enough, findingpearl-oysters and pearls, eating green cocoanuts off the trees, fishing, and finishing off with an interview with a gigantic saurian and a sailback here. "

"Yes, yes, yes, it was all glorious, but every minute I was beingchecked either by you or old Bob, or by a sharp pain. Can't you putsome ointment or sticking plaster over the broken place and make it healor mend up more quickly?"

"No, sir, I cannot, " said the doctor, smiling. "That's Dame Nature'swork, and she does her part in a slow and sure way. She is forming newbone material to fill up the cracks in your breakage, and if you keepthe place free from fretting it will grow stronger than ever; but youmust have patience. The bark does not grow over the broken limb of atree in a week or two; but it covers the place at last. Patience, patience, patience. Just think, my boy, isn't it wonderful that themending should go on as it does? Waking or sleeping, the bony matter isforming. "

"Oh, yes, I suppose it's all very wonderful, but--"

"But you want me to perform a miracle, my dear boy, and you know as wellas I do that I can't. "

Carey sighed. 

"I know it is very irksome, " continued the doctor; "but just think ofyour position. Only the other day I was afraid you were going to die. Now here you are, hale and hearty, with nothing the matter with you butthat tender place where the bone is knitting together. Don't you thinkyou ought to be very thankful?"

"Of course I do!" cried Carey. "That was only a morning growl. Buttell me this: will my shoulders and neck be all right again some day?"

"I tell you yes, and the more patient you are, and the more careful notto jar the mending bone, the sooner it will be. "

"There, then, I'll never grumble again. "

"Till next time, " said the doctor, smiling. 

"I won't have any next time, " cried Carey, eagerly. "Now then, what arewe going to do to-day?"

"You must be tired with your exertions yesterday. "

"No; not a bit, " cried Carey, "and going out seemed to do me so muchgood. "

"Very well, then, we'll sail to the island again, and fish and collect. "

"And get some more cocoanuts. I say, I could climb one of the trees, couldn't I? That wouldn't hurt my shoulder. "

The doctor gave the boy a droll look. 

"There, how stupid I am!" cried the boy, flushing. "I want to do thingslike I used to, and I keep forgetting. "

"Try not to, then, my boy. Surely your own common-sense tells you thatnothing could be more injurious than the exertion of dragging yourselfup a tree by your arms. "

"Of course, doctor, " said the boy, grinning. "It's my common-sense hasa bad habit of going to sleep. "

"Keep it awake, then, not only now, but always. "

"All right, sir. What are we going to collect, then?"

"Well, it is tempting to try and find some more pearls. "

"Yes, very; but I say, doctor, oughtn't we to--I don't want to go yet, for there's so much to see here--but oughtn't we to try and do somethingabout going on to Moreton Bay?"

"Ha!" ejaculated the doctor. "I've lain awake night after nightthinking about that, my lad, but I always came to one conclusion. "

"What's that?" asked the boy, eagerly. 

"That we are perfectly helpless. I don't think we could construct aboat sufficiently seaworthy to warrant our attempting a voyage in her. There is plenty of material if we tore up the deck or the boards frombelow, and of course Bostock is very handy; but I am wanting in faith asto his making us a large enough boat. "

"Why not a bigger raft?"

"My dear boy, we should be washed off in the first rough sea. Besides, a raft would be perfectly unmanageable in the fierce currents. We mightbe stranded on the mainland, but more probably we should be drifted outto sea. Either there or ashore we should perish from want of food. Iam not wanting in enterprise, Carey, my lad, and it is terrible in spiteof the beauty of the place to be stranded here; but I think our course, surrounded as we are with every necessary of life, is to wait patientlyand see what may turn up. There is the possibility that some of the_Chusan's_ boats may get to one of the western ports or be picked up bya vessel, and in time, no doubt, the agents of the company will send asteamer round the coast to see if there are any traces of their greatvessel. I believe we have a large sum in gold stowed somewhere below. "

"No fear of our taking any of it to spend, " said Carey, laughing. "Isay, then, you think we ought to settle down quietly, not bother aboutbuilding a boat, and make the best of it. "

"Certainly, for the present. Let's get you sound to begin with, and letthe matter rest till you can swing by your arms and climb cocoanut-treeswithout a twinge. "

"All right! I want to see my father and mother again, and I'd giveanything to be able to send them word that we're safe; and every nightwhen I've lain down in my berth it's just as if my conscience wasfinding fault with me for not doing something about getting away, forall day long I seem to have been enjoying myself just as if this was ajolly holiday; and you know, doctor, I can't help feeling that I shouldlike to stay here for ever so long. "

"You can be quite at rest, Carey, my lad, " said the doctor. "Certainlyfor the present. "

"Then hurrah for a day ashore and some more fishing! How soon shall westart?"

"As soon as Bostock is ready. He's cooking now. "

"Yes, those two big pigeons. I'll go and tell him. "

"And I'll load a dozen cartridges with ball ready for the crocodiles. "

"Are they crocodiles or alligators?"

"Crocodiles, my lad. You may take it for granted that alligators belongexclusively to America. "

Carey hurried forward, led by his nose partly, for there was a pleasantsmell of roasting, and he reached the cook's place--a neatly fitted-upkitchen more than a galley--to find Bostock looking very hot, and in theact of taking the pigeons, brown and sizzling, from the oven. 

"Not quite done, sir, " he said. "I shall put 'em in the oven again forhalf an hour just before you want 'em. It wouldn't have done to leave'em waiting. Things soon turn in this hot country. "

"We're going ashore again as soon as you're ready. "

"That'll be in ten minutes, then, my lad. "

"You'll take a stronger fishing-line this time?"

"Don't you be feared about that, " said the old fellow, nodding his headsideways; "but come along o' me on deck. I've saved this here onpurpose for you to see. "

"Pah! How nasty!" cried the boy, as Bostock brought forward an ironbucket containing the internal parts of the pigeons. 

"Don't look very nice, but I thought I'd save it till you come. "

"What for?"

"Come and see. I'm just going to chuck it overboard and wash out thebucket. "

Carey grasped the man's reason directly, and they went on deck to theside where the water was deepest. 

As they looked over the side they could gaze down through thecrystal-clear water into the groves of seaweed and shrubberies of coral, where the anemones and star-fish were dotting every clear spot with whatlooked like floral beauties. 

"Seems a shame to throw all that filth overboard, and spoil all thatlovely clearness, " said Carey. 

"Do it, sir? Ah, it won't spoil it long. There's them there as'llthink it good enough, and in five minutes the water'll be as clear asever. "

"But I don't see a single fish. "

"More do I, sir, but they're all about somewhere. Ah, look yonder;there's one of them black and yaller snakes. He's a big thick one too. See him?" said the man, pointing. 

"No--yes, I do, " cried the boy eagerly, and he shaded his eyes to watchthe strikingly coloured reptile lying apparently asleep on the surface, twined up in graceful curves, some thirty yards away. 

"You see if he don't go like a shot as soon as I make a splash. "

A line was attached to the handle of the bucket, which was then raisedfrom the deck. 

"Stand clear, " cried Bostock, and with a dexterous heave he spread itscontents far and wide, dropping the bucket directly after to fill itselfand be washed clean. 

"Where's the snake?" he said. 

"It went down like a flash, Bob; but what a horrid mess, and there areno fish. "

"Aren't there?" said the old fellow, coolly. 

"Yes! hundreds; where did they all come from?"

"Oh, from below, I suppose, " and after giving the bucket three or fourrinses the old sailor stood watching the water, now alive withgood-sized fish, darting about and bearing off every scrap of therefuse, not even a floating feather being left, so that in five minutesthe water was as crystal-clear as ever. 

"What do you think of that, sir?" said Bostock, smiling. "Fish arepretty hungry about here. Be 'most ready to eat a chap who was having aswim. "

"It's plain enough that we could catch plenty from the deck here. "

"Yes, sir, if you didn't get your lines tangled in the coral. I'drather moor the raft out in deeper water yonder off the shore. Couldn'thave a better place than we had yesterday. "

Half an hour later they were being gently wafted towards their previousday's landing place, where cocoanuts were obtained, fish caught, and alarge addition made to the number of pearl shells, which were laid onthe sand in the bright sunshine, it being decided that on a large scalethe task would be too laborious to open the great molluscs one by one. 

"I'll show you how it's done, gen'lemen, " said Bostock. "I've seen it. Before long those shells 'll be gaping, and the oysters dead. Thenwe'll haul one of the biggest casks we can get ashore and scrape out theoysters and drop 'em in along with some water. "

"To decay?" said the doctor. 

"That's it, sir. Give 'em time and a stir-up every now and then, andthey go all into a nasty thin watery stuff which you can pour away, washwhat's left with clean water, and there at last are all the pearls atthe bottom without losing one, while the shells have lain in the sun andgrown sweet. "

Enough pearling being done for the day, Bostock attacked one of theheaviest laden cocoanut-trees, making a "sterrup, " as he called it, bypassing a short piece of rope round himself and the tree, tying it fast, and then half-sitting in it and pressing against the trunk with hislegs, hitching the rope up foot by foot till he reached the leafy crown, where he screwed off a dozen fine nuts and threw them down upon the sandbefore descending. 

"Why, Bob, " cried Carey, "I didn't think you were so clever as that. "

"More did I, sir. "

"But you must have had lots of practice. "

"Nay, sir, I never did it afore; but I've seen the blacks do it often, and it seemed so easy I thought I'd try. "

Later on, when well refreshed, they went cautiously to the mouth of thelittle river, stalking the crocodiles by gliding from rock to rock, butwithout result; not a single pair of watchful eyes was to be seen on thesurface. There were, however, plenty of a mullet-like fish. 

But the party preferred to make use of their lines from the raft mooredat the edge of the deep water, where they were not long in securinghalf-a-dozen fine fish partaking of the appearance of the John Dory asfar as the great heads were concerned, but in bodily shape plumper andthicker of build. 

Then the raft was unmoored and the sail hoisted, to fill out in the softland breeze, which wafted them back to their stranded home. 

CHAPTER FOURTEEN. 

The weather was glorious, and the days glided by in what would have beena luxurious life had it not been for the busy, investigating spiritwhich kept them active. 

For they were in the midst of abundance. The well-stored ship, victualled for a couple of hundred people, offered plenty for three, while from sea and land there was an ample supply in the form of fish, fowl, and eggs, both birds' and turtles', places being discovered whichwere affected by these peculiar reptiles, and where they crawled out todeposit their round ova in the sand, while a fine specimen could beobtained by careful watching. 

Then, too, there was an abundant supply of fresh water easily to beobtained by taking a water cask up the river on the raft. 

As Carey's injury mended he was restlessly busy either superintendingthe pearl fishing, whose results were visible in half-a-dozen casks sunkin the sands and an ever-increasing stack of the great shells carefullyranged in solid layers by Bostock, to whom fell the lot of pouring waterin the casks and giving their contents a stir-up from time to time. 

"Smell, sir?" he said, in answer to a remark from Carey, who always wentcarefully to windward. "Oh, I s'pose they do; so does fish if you keepit too long, but I don't mind. "

"But it's horrid sometimes, " said Carey; "and if it wasn't for thepearls I wouldn't have anything to do with the mess. "

"Dirty work brings clean money, my lad; and if you come to that, thefresh lots of shells I piles up don't smell like pots of musk. But it'sall a matter o' taste. Some likes one smell, and some likes another, and then they calls it scent. Why, I remember once as people used toput drops on their hankychies as they called--now, what did they callthat there scent, my lad?"

"Eau de Cologne. "

"No, nothing like that. "

"Lavender water?"

"Nay, nay. "

"Millefleurs?"

"Nay, nothing like it. Here, I've got it; something like Paddy Chooly. "

"Patchouli?"

"That's it. I knew it was something about Paddy. Well, sir, if you'llbelieve me, that stuff smelt just like black beetles in a kitchencupboard near the fire. I don't mind the smell o' pearl soup. "

"But I want to see number one emptied. When is it to be?"

"When it's quite ripe, and it aren't ripe yet. "

"Takes a long time, doesn't it?" said Carey. 

"And no mistake. So much the better. You've been expecting andexpecting, and thinking about emptying that tub, and getting shovelsfull o' pearls out o' the bottom, and it's made you forget all aboutyour sore chesty and give it time to get well. 'Tis quite well now, aren't it?"

"I think so, Bob; only the doctor says I'm to be very careful. "

"Of course you have to be, my lad. But don't you fidget; I'll tell youwhen number one cask's ripe, and then don't you expect too much, forit's like lots o' things in this here world; it may turn out werrydisappointing. You puts in pounds o' trouble, and don't get out anounce o' good. P'raps there won't be a teaspoonful o' pearls, and themonly as small as dust. "

"Oh!" ejaculated Carey. 

"No use to reckon on them, sir, but all the same, sometimes when a tub'semptied it turns out wonderful. "

But the time wore on; tub after tub was filled, and the contents grewmore and more liquid, and the testing was still kept in abeyance. 

"Never mind, " said the doctor, laughing, when Carey protested; "there isno harm in waiting. "

And day by day Carey grew stronger, gradually taking his part in thedaily avocations, fishing and shooting; and it was a grand day for himwhen one day the doctor thought that he might join him on an expeditionto the lake. 

"I'm all right now, Bob, " he said, hurrying to the old sailor afterthis. 

"Well, yes, you seem to be, sir, " said Bostock; "what with the doctor'slooking you up and down and me feeding you, we've pretty well made a manof you, and you're nearly all right; but I don't quite take what youmean. "

"I've passed my last examination now, and Doctor Kingsmead seems tothink he can give me up. "

"I'm glad of it, my lad. Hearty, my lad. "

"And we're going to explore a bit, going right up to the lake. "

"Am I coming too?"

"Of course. You'd like to, wouldn't you?"

"Course I should, sir. Going to take the guns?"

"Oh, yes, and I mean to shoot. I want to see that lake too. It hasbeen so tiresome only keeping along the shore and about the sands. "

"You've had some tidy sails about the lagoon, and some good fishing, mylad. "

"Of course I have, but I want to shoot. "

"Well, I s'pose it's natural, sir, " said Bostock. "I know when I was aboy I always wanted to do something else. If I was in a garden it allusseemed as if the next garden must be better, and I wanted to look overthe wall. One allus wants to be doing something fresh. It's Natur, Is'pose. Do we start soon?"

"Oh, yes, as soon as we can get off. "

The early breakfast was over, and the satchel of provisions beingprepared they were soon over the side, each bearing a double gun and afair supply of ammunition, Bostock carrying, in addition, a small axeready for use, and Carey hanging a billhook to his belt--a handyimplement for getting through cane or tangled thorn. 

It was another lovely morning, with the submarine gardens more beautifulthan ever; but there was very little wind, and their progress across totheir regular landing place was very slow, but not wearisome, for therewas always something fresh to see in the sunlit waters. On thisparticular morning they sailed over sandy openings among the rocks, where Bostock drew attention to the abundance of those peculiarsea-slugs known in commerce as sea-cucumbers. 

"Why not try some o' them cooked one of these days, Master Carey?" saidthe old sailor. 

"Pah! Horrid! You never ate one, did you?"

"No, sir, but the Chinese think a deal of 'em, and give no end of moneyfor a hundredweight salted and dried. We shall have to take tocollecting them when we've got all the pearl hysters. "

"Why, that will never be, Bob. There's all round the island to go, andeven if we finished them we could sail to first one and then anotherreef. "

"Yes, that's so, sir. Strikes me that when we do go away from here, what with pearl shells, pearls, and dried cocoanuts, we ought to be ableto lade a ship with a valuable cargo. "

"Look at the fish, " said Carey. 

"Yes, sir, there's plenty; but we're not going to fish to-day, ofcourse?"

"Oh, no. Get ashore as soon as we can, and follow the stream right upto the lake. "

"It's going to be a hot walk, my lad, and--"

"Hist! Look, Bob. Here, doctor, look! look!"

Both looked in the indicated direction, to see that the raft was on itsway to glide by a turtle basking in the hot sunshine and apparently fastasleep. 

"We're not going to fish, " whispered Carey, "but we ought to have that. "

"Yes, " said the doctor, and Bostock was evidently of the same opinion, for he bent down softly to pick up a little coil of fine rope to make anoose at one end. 

"You just make the other end fast to one of the planks, sir, " hewhispered. "He'll make a big rush as soon as he feels the rope. "

Bostock crept forward softly and knelt down ready, with the raft glidingright for the sleeping reptile. 

Then both the doctor and Carey held their breath with excitement, as theold sailor reached out, slipped the noose over one of the fins, and thenstarted back deluged with water dashed up by the startled creature, which rushed off with all its might till it was brought up short by theline coming to an end. 

At this there was a violent jerk, the raft was drawn out of its courseand began to move at increased speed in the direction of the opening inthe great reef, the prisoner making for the open sea. 

"Better come and give a hand here, Mr Carey, sir, " cried Bostock. "Iought to guide him a bit and make, him tow us our way so as to get himashore. What do you say to the mouth of the river? If we could get himto run up there it would be splendid. "

"And what about the crocodiles, Bob?"

"Eh? Ah! I forgot all about them, sir. Never mind; anywhere 'll do. That's right, sir; lay hold. Strong a'most as a helephant, aren't he?Wo ho! my lad. Don't be in a flurry. Well, I _am_ blest!"

One minute they were gliding steadily over the lagoon; the next the ropehung loosely in their hands. 

"Lost him?" said the doctor. 

"Yes, sir. We must have pulled one of his fins out. Dessay we've gotit here. "

"The rope slipped over it, Bob, " said Carey, in disappointed tones, asthe noose was hauled aboard. "Oh, we ought to have had that. It was abeauty. "

"Never mind, " said the doctor. "Steer for the shore, and let's get offon our trip. "

Bostock turned to his steering oar and shook his head in a verydiscontented way. 

"It's just as I said about the pearls, Master Carey; it don't do toreckon on anything till you get it. But I ought to have had that chap. "

They made fast the raft and landed soon after, a little chipping with acrowbar having turned a rough mass into a pier which ran right up to thesand and sort of put an end to the necessity for wading. 

Then kits and guns were shouldered, and, light-hearted and eager, Careyfollowed the doctor, who struck in at once through the great belt ofcocoanut palms, and, pushing upwards through beautifully wooded ground, soon took them beyond the parts heretofore traversed by Carey, who nowbegan to long to stop at every hundred yards to investigate a floweringtree where insects swarmed, or some clump of bushes noisy with cockatoosor screaming parrots. But the doctor kept steadily on till a dullhumming roar away to the right began to grow louder, and at the end ofabout a mile of climbing there was a soft moist feeling in the air, which increased till all at once their guide halted upon the brink of aprecipice. 

"Now then, " he said, speaking loudly, for the roar of the hidden fallsnearly drowned his voice; "come forward cautiously and look down. "

Carey and the old sailor approached, parting the mass of ferns andcreepers, which flourished wonderfully in the soft moist air; and thenthey found themselves on a level with the top of the hills which theyhad seen from the lagoon, where the little river suddenly plunged downinto a deep hollow a couple of hundred feet below, and from which afaint cloud of mist floated, now arched by an iridescent bow. It was abeautiful sight, but the doctor gave them little time to admire it. 

"You can come up here any time now, " he said. "Let's push forward andget to the lake and the peak which we have to climb, so that you canhave the view. "

"But where was it you saw the crocodiles?" asked Carey. 

"Oh, half a mile lower down, nearer the sea. I came straight acrossto-day, so as to take the nearest cut. The little river runs up througha winding valley right away from here. "

"But we shall be missing all the beauties, " said Carey. 

The doctor laughed. 

"There'll be more beauties and wonders than you can grasp in oneexcursion, " he said. "I suppose you mean to come again, and to use yourgun. "

The boy was silenced, and followed the doctor as he pressed on for somedistance farther, till the valley opened out a little and there wasample room to walk on the same level as the river, here gliding gentlyin the full sunshine, with its banks beautiful with flower, insect, andbird. 

Every here and there, though, there were hot sandy patches dotted withpeculiar-looking black stone lying in masses, cracked and riven as if byfire, while parts were cindery and vesicular, others glistening in thesunshine like black glass. 

"You take the lead now, Carey, " said the doctor. "You can't go wrong;only follow the river; it will lead you right up to the lake. "

"Wouldn't you rather lead, sir?"

"No, my lad; I want you to have the first chance at anything worthshooting. Keep your eyes well open, and you may catch sight of thegreat crowned pigeons. There, forward. "

Carey needed no further orders, and full of excitement he stepped on infront, looking keenly to right and left, and scanning every bush andtree. For the first mile he saw nothing larger than parrots, butturning into a stony part where the sand and pebbles reflected the sunwith a glowing heat, something suddenly darted up from before him andran rapidly in amongst a rugged pile of scattered stones. 

"Here! a young crocodile, " he cried. 

"Nonsense, boy. There are no crocodiles here, " cried the doctor. "Oneof the great mountain lizards. "

"Too big! Six feet long, " said Carey, excitedly. 

"Well, they grow seven or eight. Go on. "

Carey went on, but so as to follow the glistening creature he had seendisappear, cocking his gun for a shot if he had a chance. 

The chance came the next minute, but he was not able to take advantageof it, for on turning one of the black masses of slag which looked as ifit had lately come from a furnace, the great lizard was started again, and what followed was over in a few seconds, for the lithe, activecreature turned threateningly upon its pursuer with jaws thrown open, and it looked startling enough in its grey, glistening armour as itmenaced the lad, who stood aghast--but only to be brought to a knowledgeof his position by the attack which followed. 

It was no snapping or seizing, but there was a sharp whistling soundand, quick as lightning, the long, tapering thin tail crooked twiceround Carey's legs, making him utter a cry of pain, for it was as if hehad been flogged sharply with a whip of wire. 

The next minute the great lizard had disappeared. 

"Why didn't you shoot?" said the doctor. 

"Hadn't time. Oh, how it did hurt! Why, it was like steel. "

"Never mind; you must be quicker next time, but I daresay there will bemarks left. "

"And Bob's laughing at it, " said the boy, in an ill-used tone. "Here, you had better lead. "

"Never mind, lead on, " said the doctor; "the smarting will soon passoff. It is not like a poisonous bite. "

All the same the whip-like strokes stung and smarted terribly, as theboy went on again, vowing vengeance mentally against the very nextlizard he saw. 

But he did not take his revenge, though he started two more at differenttimes from among the sun-baked stones, and Bostock bantered him aboutit. 

"Why don't you shoot, sir?" he said, in a low voice so that the doctor, who was a little behind, examining plants, did not hear. 

"Who's to shoot at a thin whip-lash of a tail?" said Carey, angrily. "They're here one moment and gone the next. They dart out of sight likea flash. "

As they went higher the doctor pointed out various tokens of someancient eruption, it being plain that there must have been a time whenthe bed of the river formed that of a flow of volcanic mud, mingled withblocks of lava and scoria. Then the lake must in the course of ageshave formed, and its overflowings have swept away all soft and loosedebris. 

"Yes, it's all very interesting, " said Carey, "but it's precious hot, "and he gave himself a sort of writhe to make his clothes rub over hisskin. But the attempt was in vain, for his shirt stuck, and apeculiarly irritable look came over his countenance. 

"Do the weals sting?" asked the doctor. 

"Horribly. That lizard's tail must be all bone. Oh, it does hurtstill. "

"It will soon go off. Think of it from a natural history point of view, my boy, and how singular it is that the creature should be endowed withsuch a wonderful power of defence. It regularly flogged and lashed atyou. "

"Yes; cracked its tail like a whip. "

"No, no; the sound you heard was caused by the blows. It seems as ifthe saurian tribe make special use of their tails for offence anddefence. "

"Why, what else does?" said Carey, rubbing himself softly. 

"Crocodiles and alligators strike with tremendous force; the former willsweep cattle or human beings off a river bank into the water; and Idaresay those monster lizards attack small animals in the same way. "

"But I'm not a small animal, sir, " said the boy, shortly. "Yes, it'sall very well to laugh, Doctor Kingsmead, and talk about studying awhopping from a natural history point of view, but one couldn't studywasps comfortably sitting on their nest. "

"No, and I daresay the cuts were very painful, but the sting will soonpass off. "

"Yes, it's getting better now, " said Carey, looking a little morecheerful; "but old Bob keeps on grinning about it. He doesn't look atme, but he keeps on chuckling to himself every minute, and that's whatit means. I wish he'd get stung, or something. Hi! look out. Snake!"

His shout aroused a sleeping boa--not one of the giants of its kind, buta good-sized serpent of the sort known among Australian settlers as thecarpet snake. 

The reptile had been sleeping in the sunshine and, startled intoactivity, made for its lair, a dense patch of woodland, escaping beforeanyone could get a shot. 

"That's a pretty good proof that this isle was at one time joined to themainland, Carey, " said the doctor, "and this would account for thevolcano we are ascending being so dwarfed. There must have been agradual sinking, and so it is that we find creatures that would notinhabit an ordinary island. For instance, we should not find monitorsand carpet snakes in a coral island. Look at the birds too; thosekingfishers. Do you see, Bostock, there's an old friend of ours, thegreat laughing jackass?"

"Nay, " said the old sailor, shading his eyes; "that's not the same. He's a deal like him, but our old laughing jackasses down south haven'tgot all that bright blue in their jackets. Going to shoot him, MasterCarey?"

"No, " said the boy; "I don't want it. 'Tisn't good to eat. "

"There's a lovely bird there, " said the doctor, pointing to where therewas a flash of dark purply orange, as the sun played upon the head andback of a bird nearly the size of a jay. "A regular Queensland bird. I've seen it there. "

"What is it?" said Carey. 

"The rifle bird; a near relative, I believe, to the birds of paradise. "

"But it's nearly black, " protested Carey. "Birds of paradise are allfluffy buff feathers. "

"Some of them, " said the doctor, "but there are many kinds, some muchmore ornamental than the kind you mean. "

He raised his gun to shoot the rifle bird, but lowered it again. 

"I couldn't preserve it if I shot it, " he said. "Come along. "

They continued the ascent, finding the heat in the sheltered valleyrather more than they could bear, and Carey looked longingly down to hisright at the placidly flowing river, thinking how pleasant a dip wouldbe. 

"I say, " he said at last, "what a little shade there is. "

"And unfortunately, " said the doctor, "it grows less the higher we get--a way with the growth on mountains; but we shall soon be high enough tofeel the sea breeze, and after all it's a wonderfully interestingtramp. "

Carey agreed that it was, for the bird life now was most attractive--gaily dressed parroquets, green, and with breasts like gorgeous sunsets, were plentiful. 

There were the lovely little zebra parrots, too, in abundance, blackcockatoos, white with sulphur crest, beauties in pink and grey, andfinches with black or scarlet heads and breasts shot with topaz, amethyst, and vivid blue. 

Then every rock had its occupants in the shape of silvery-grey, golden-green, or black and orange lizards, some looking as if they werebearded, others bearing a singular frill, while again others were dottedwith hideous spikes and prickles, all being given to turn defiantly uponthe intruders to their domain, and menacingly open their gaping mouths, lined with orange, yellow, or rich blue; but ready to take flight allthe same and plunge into the rock rift or hole which made their home. 

At last there was a rocky slope to climb, up to the left of which asugar-loaf peak rose, which Carey at once concluded was the one whichthe doctor had climbed; so, feeling that their task was pretty wellachieved, he manfully breasted the rock-strewn slope, ignored thelizards basking in the sun, and directly after gave a shout ofsatisfaction, for on one side there came a deliciously cool breeze, while on the other he was looking down at a vividly blue lake lying in ahollow a couple of hundred feet below where he stood, and quitesheltered from the wind, so that its surface was like a mirror andreflected the hills all round. 

"Lovely, eh, Carey?"

"It is glorious, " panted the boy. "Isn't it fine, Bob?"

Bostock grunted, laid down his gun, swung round the satchel containingthe food, and passed the strap over his head, setting it afterwards onthe ground in a very significant manner. 

"Yes, " said the doctor; "we may as well have our lunch. "

"But I say, " said Carey, "do you really think this was once a volcano, doctor?"

"Certainly, and the blue water we look down upon was preceded by a lakeof fire. "

"But how was that? Where did the water come from? Not from the sea. "

"No, from the draining of these hills or mountains all round, upon whichyou have seen the clouds gather and melt into rain. "

"And that put out the volcanic fire?" said Carey, quickly. 

"Oh, no, " replied the doctor, smiling. "If those trickling streams hadrun down into a lake of fire they would have flown up again in steamwith tremendous explosions. This lake of water did not form until thevolcano was quite extinct, and--"

"Shall I cut up the wittles, sir?" said Bostock, who had beenimpatiently waiting for the doctor to end his lecture. 

"Here, fall to, Carey; Bostock is getting ravenous. " And they ate theirlunch, with Carey longing to go down the inner slope to examine the lakefor fish and try to find out how deep it was. 

It was a double feast, one for the body and one for the brain, the longwalk and exertion having made all hungry, and as soon as this wasappeased the doctor led the way for the final cone to be climbed. 

Here Carey feasted indeed--the glass showing him through the limpid airreef after reef silvered with spray, and what were evidently islands, looking like faint amethystine clouds floating between sea and sky. 

These islands lay to the north-east, but though they all looked long andcarefully there was no sign of any great tract of land or continent. 

"These are the times, Carey, when one feels one's ignorance, " observedthe doctor. 

"Ignorance? I thought you knew nearly every thing. "

"Nearly nothing, " said the doctor, laughing. "I mean as compared towhat there is to know. Now, for instance, there are charts in thecaptain's cabin, and the proper instruments for taking observations--sextants and chronometer. I ought to be able to tell exactly where weare, Carey, and mark it upon a chart, but I can't. "

"Never mind, sir, it's very beautiful, " said the boy. "I say, though, we can't see the _Chusan_ from here. "

"No, it is cut off by the projecting part of the mountain. "

"Yes, and the lower parts and mouth of the river too. But we can seeall round the other side of the island. "

"Yes, and see what prisoners we are and shall be till some ship comes ona voyage of discovery and sees the great wreck. "

"Well, " said Carey, thoughtfully, "if it wasn't for one thing I like it, and don't feel in a bit of a hurry to go away. "

"And what is the one thing?" asked the doctor. 

"Mother and father's trouble. They must think I'm dead. "

CHAPTER FIFTEEN. 

The trio rested at the top of the peak for a couple of hours, and thenstarted back, the doctor taking the lead again so as to vary the way ofdescent, and gain an acquaintance with as much of the island as waspossible. 

This had the effect of lengthening out the journey, for there were manydetours to be made to avoid dense jungly patches through which theywould have had to clear their way; so that it was getting on towardsevening when, after descending slope after slope and dodging, as Careytermed it, through little maze-like valleys, they came in sight of thewaving cocoanut palms beneath them, and finally passed through to reachthe sands. 

They were still some distance from the landing place where the raft lay, and the sand was hot, loose, and painful to walk upon; but at last therocky natural pier was reached, the raft cut loose, and, there being apleasant evening breeze sufficient to ripple the water, they sailedsteadily across. 

"Might get a fish or two for supper easy to-night, sir, " said Bostock. "I've got a line, sir. Shall I try?"

"No, we've done enough to-day, " replied the doctor. "Let's be satisfiedwith what we've done and the provisions we have on board. "

"Right, sir, " said Bostock. "There is plenty of pickled fish. "

"I feel more like a cup of tea than anything, " replied the doctor. "Itwas a thirsty climb. Better take out the cartridges from your gun, Carey. "

"Mind taking mine out too, Master Carey?" said Bostock, who wassteering. 

"All right, " said Carey, following the doctor's example and returningthe little charges to the ammunition bag. "I say, we shall only justget aboard before dark. "

"We ought to have been half-an-hour sooner, " observed the doctor, andfive minutes or so later the raft rubbed with a grinding sound againstthe side, where it was made fast to a ring bolt by their hanging ladder. 

The doctor ascended first to the darkened deck, for the night had fallenvery rapidly during the last few minutes. Carey followed him, andleaned down before he reached the top of the ladder for the guns, whichhe took from Bostock's hands and passed up to the doctor. 

The satchels and bucket of treasures they had found followed, and thenCarey finished his ascent to the lofty deck. 

"Look sharp, Bob, " he said, "and let's have some supper at once. "

"Supper it is, sir, in a brace of jiffies, " replied the old sailor, ashe stepped on deck, and he was in the act of turning to his left to gobelow to the galley, when he stopped short and uttered a warning cry. 

"The guns--the guns!" he yelled. 

Too late. There was a rush of bare feet on the soft deck, and throughthe gloom Carey was just able to make out that they were surrounded by aparty of blacks, each poising a spear ready to throw and holding in hisother hand either a knobkerry or a boomerang. 

"Go mumkull white fellow; baal, lie down, quiet, still!"

This was said in a fierce voice by one of the savage-looking fellows, and Carey mastered the desire to bound away and take refuge below. 

"Who are you? What do you want?" cried the doctor. 

"Go mumkull white fellow; baal, lie down, quiet, still!"

"Says they're going to kill us all if we don't lie down and be quiet, "growled the old sailor; then aloud to the blacks, "Here, what do youwant--'bacco--sugar? Give plenty. Black fellow go. "

"Want 'bacco, sugar, take white fellow old ship, " cried the black whohad first spoken. 

"Take our old ship, will you?" said Bostock. "I think not, my lad. There, put down spear, mulla-mulla. We'll give you sugar, 'bacco. "

The man laughed, and his companions too. 

"Where boat?" said Bostock, speaking as if he thought the savages mustbe deaf, and the spokesman pointed over the other side of the vessel. 

"It's all right, sir, " said Bostock. "Nothing to mind; they're a partywho've come in contact with English folk before, and they must have seenthe ship. It only means giving them a bit of 'bacco and sugar andsending 'em away again. Don't look afraid of 'em. Better give 'em whatthey want and let 'em go. They wander about, so we may never see 'emagain. "

"Very well; fetch up some tobacco and sugar and give them, " said thedoctor; but at the first step Bostock took half the men rushed at andseized him, making his companions snatch at their guns, but only to havethem wrested away, the blacks cocking them and drawing the triggers soas to fire them off if loaded, with a sharp _click, click_, as thehammers fell. 

"That's bad, sir, " said Bostock, in his sourest growl. "It meansfighting, and we aren't got no tools. "

"It is horrible to be taken by surprise like this, " replied the doctor;"but it only means giving them presents; they were afraid we meant toshoot them. "

"Mumkull white fellow, baal, lie still, " cried the principal man, fiercely. 

"All right, you dirty thick-headed black rough 'un, " growled Bostock. "Now then, what do you want? Give it a name. Tobacco or sugar, isn'tit, or both?"

"What's that?" said Carey, quickly, for the sharp sound of a match beingstruck in one of the cabins came up. "There's someone down below, getting a light. "

The attention of the blacks was taken too, and they stood as iflistening, till there was the sudden glow of a lamp seen in the cabinentry, and directly after a fierce-looking ruddy-brown visage appeared, the swollen-veined, blood-shot eyes looking wild, strange, and horribleas the light the man carried struck full upon it and made the greatragged beard glisten. 

Carey stared at him in wonder, taking in at a glance his roughhalf-sailor-like shirt and trousers and heavy fisherman's boots. Henoted, too, that the man wore a belt with holsters which evidentlycontained small revolvers. 

The question was on his lips, "Who are you?" with its following, "Whatare you doing there?"

But the words were taken out of his lips by the doctor, who asked thequestions angrily. 

"Eh?" came in a hoarse, raucous voice, as the man rolled forward, withthe lamp, till he was near enough to hold it close to the doctor's face, and then to those of the others. 

"Only three on 'em, then. Don't let 'em go, my sonnies. Now then, you, what do you say? What am I doing here? What are you doing--what do youwant aboard my ship?"

"Your ship, you bullying, drunken ruffian!" cried the doctor, in a rage. "You've been down in the cabin helping yourself to the spirits, or youwould not dare to speak to me like this. "

"Well! You do talk, " cried the man, with a hoarse laugh. "Yes, I'vehad a drop I found down there. Thirsty, my lad, thirsty. "

"Did you bring these black scoundrels aboard?" cried the doctor, who wasbeside himself with rage. 

"Sartain I did; they're my crew, and I'm their master, and I've only gotto say the word and over you go to the sharks. Eh, sonny? Sharks, eh?"

"Sharkum, sharkum!" cried the man who seemed to be the leader, and hecaught hold of the doctor, his example being followed by his fellows;but in an instant he was sent staggering back, and Bostock's assailantmet with similar treatment, while Carey struck out, but with very littleeffect, save that he hurt his knuckles against the grinning teeth of theblack who seized him. 

"Hold hard, my sonnies; not yet. Let's see how they behave themselves. Stand back. "

It was evident that the great coarse-looking ruffian had perfect commandover the party of black fellows, who shrank back at a word, and waitedwith glistening eyes, their faces shining in the lamplight. 

"There, " said the man, "you see; so don't be sarcy. I let you off thistime, because you didn't know; only if there's any more of it I says theword, and over the side you go. Now then, who are you?"

"I am the medical officer of this stranded vessel, the _Chusan_, uponwhich you have trespassed; and I hold her in charge for the company ofowners until they send a relief expedition to reclaim or salvage her. "

"That all?" said the man, with a hoarse laugh. "That for you, then, andall you say, " and he snapped his fingers in the doctor's face. "Now, look here, my fine fellow, I'm Dan Mallam, Beachcomber [see note], asthey call me, King o' the Pearl Islands, dealer and merchant in copra, pearl shells, and pearls. These are my reefs and islands. This is myestate, and all flotsam and jetsam as is washed ashore is mine. Do youhear me?--mine, to do as I likes with. This steamer's come ashore on myland, and my black lads, as has been out shelling and collecting nuts, saw it come and tell me, who have come over to see what the sea haswashed me up this time, for I've been getting short o' odds and ends, and the rum was getting low. There was the steamer, empty and castaway, and I've took possession, when you come and begin bullying andpretending you've got a claim on her. "

"Claim on her, you scoundrelly pirate!" cried the doctor. "Why, menhave been transported for life for what you are attempting to do. "

The man scowled at the word transportation, and his right hand went toone of the holsters, whose flap he pressed over the stud so as to laybare the butt of the pistol within. This he drew out and cocked. 

"I just warn you to be civil, my fine fellow, " he said. "I've only tosay a word to my black fellows, and, in spite of your kicking, overyou'd go into water that swarms with sharks; but when a man insults me, Dan Mallam, King o' the Pearl Islands, my temper gets warm, and I showmy boys what a shot I am. Do you hear?"

The pistol clicked, and sent a shudder through Carey, who started at theominous sound and looked wildly round for the guns, in the mad idea thathe might be able to catch one up, load it, and fire in defence of theman towards whom he felt as if he were an elder brother. But the gunswere all in the hands of the blacks, and others had possession of thesatchels containing the cartridges. 

Second thoughts convinced him that such an attempt could only result inthe ruffian carrying out one of his threats, for he was beyond the reachof the law, if he were, as he said, a dweller in some neighbouringisland, ruling probably over a little tribe of blacks. 

What was to be done?

Just then the doctor spoke. 

"Look here, " he said, "I do not wish to insult you, but I am not goingto give up to a man who is acting as you are. I tell you once more, Ihold this vessel in my charge, and I am prepared to defend it on behalfof the owners. "

"How?" said their visitor, with a mocking laugh. 

"Never mind how, " replied the doctor, more calmly. "I am not to befrightened by empty threats. We are not so far from civilisation thatyou dare injure me and my companions. The news would be carried toBrisbane, Adelaide, or Sydney, and one of her Majesty's war ships on thestation would soon be here to call you to account. "

"How'd they get the noos?" said the man, mockingly. 

"In the same way that you did: the blacks would hear it. "

"Let 'em, " said the man, fiercely. "A black fellow's life aren't worthmuch, but they think too much of it to care about chucking it away. "

"The report would certainly reach headquarters, and, like the blackfellows, sir, you care too much for your life to care about chucking itaway, as you call it. Now, look here, I am not frightened by yourthreats, neither do I want to quarrel. "

"Same here, sonny, so let's forget what's passed and be friends, " saidthe man, replacing his little revolver. 

"Hear me out first, " said the doctor. "I am in command here, and I meanto retain it, but I do not wish to be grasping or unfair to anEnglishman in want of necessaries out in this wild place. I will letyou have what things you require in the morning. "

"Thankye, " said the man, drily. "Now then, we've only just got hereafter a long paddling against the currents, and the wind against us. Iwant something to eat, and my boys are pretty sharp set. Where do youkeep your prog?"

"Call the men off, and tell them to camp down forward on the deck, " saidthe doctor. "They can have a sail for tent, and they shall have suchrations as we have ready. You would like a cabin, I suppose?"

"Well, rather, " said the man, with a peculiar smile. 

"We shall have a kind of supper ready soon; so call off your men atonce. "

"All right; only no games. "

"Treachery?" said the doctor; "I had no thought of anything of thekind. "

"Here, Black Jack, let go, and take the boys forward. No mumkull, baal, spear, baal, nulla-nulla. Plenty much eat soon. Get out. "

The man grunted, said a few words to his fellows, and they all troopedforward and squatted on the deck. 

"Beg pardon, sir, " growled Bostock; "give 'em some 'bacco; there'splenty. "

"All right, " said their leader; "give 'em plenty of 'bacco. That'llkeep 'em quiet for the night. Only I say, just a word of advice. Don'ttry to play no tricks, for they're about as nasty as a bag o' snakes. Rile 'em or rile me, and they'll bite. If they bite they kill, and ifthey kill you three there'll be no work got out of 'em for a week. Understand?"

"No, " said the doctor, quietly. 

"Then I'll tell you: they'll take you ashore, and make a fire, and cookyou. "

"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Carey, derisively. 

The next moment the man's hand closed tight upon the boy's shoulder, holding him fast. 

"You don't believe it, eh?"

"No, " said Carey, boldly; "not a word of it, and don't grip my shoulderlike that--it hurts. "

"Meant it to, puppy, " growled the man, menacingly. "D'ye hear? Cookyou and eat you, and they'll begin on you, because you're young andtender; and they'll go on eating you till they're as dizzy as drunkenmen. Then they'll go to sleep, and wake up again, and go on cooking andeating till they can't see, and keep on till they've finished you all. "

"Find me pretty tough, " growled Bostock. 

"Not they, " cried the man. "You'd be tender by the time they got toyou. They don't mind how long it is first. Don't believe it, eh?"

"No, " said Carey, setting his teeth hard to master the pain he felt. "It's a silly story about cannibalism to frighten me. "

"Think so?" said the man. "All right. Here, Black Jack!" he roared. 

The leading black snatched up spear and club and bounded to the speakerwith wonderful alacrity, his eyes flashing, and he looked from one tothe other as if expecting orders to slay. 

"Ask him, " growled his leader. 

Carey was turning faint with pain, and the doctor saw it and steppedforward. 

"Take hold of his arm, " he said to their captor; "the boy has had hiscollar-bone broken. "

As he spoke he removed the great coarse hand to the boy's fore-arm, andCarey uttered a sigh of relief. Then, turning to the fierce-lookingsavage, he said quickly, "Here, you blackie. "

"Not Blackie; Black Jack. "

"Well, Black Jack, what do you do with your prisoners?"

The fierce look died into a broad grin, and he showed his white teeth. 

"Make fire; eatum, " he said, promptly. "Make big feast. "

"Go back!" growled the so-called king. 

"No. Mumkull; kill, eatum. "

"Not now. Be off. "

The black darted back to his companions, and the beachcomber turned toCarey. 

"Want some more proof?" he said. 

Carey was silent. 

"Here, you, " said the man, turning to Bostock. "Been in these partsbefore?"

"Lots o' times, " said the old sailor. 

"Tell him, then. "

"Is it true, Bob?"

"Yes, my lad, it's true enough, " said Bostock. "They eat theirprisoners, their old folks, and the babies and wives, too, whenstarvation times come. "

"What, do you mean to tell me that such things go on out here inAustralia and the islands--now?"

"It's true enough, Carey, " said the doctor, gravely. "I've seen thebones at one of their camps after a feast. "

The beachcomber laughed hoarsely. 

"Now you know what you've got to expect, youngster; so behave yourself, "he said. "Now, doctor, you know. Be civil, and I daresay we shall bevery good friends; be nasty, and I shan't keep my black pack quiet, butlet 'em do as they like. Hi! Black Jack!"

The savage bounded once more to his side. 

"See that the canoe and boat are fast, and then you shall have a feast. "

"All fast. Tie rope, " said the black, pointing to the farther side ofthe steamer deck. Then, to Carey's horror, he made a peculiar gestureand pointed at him. 

"No. Salt beef. 'Bacco, " growled his leader, and the man once morebounded away. 

"Come below, " continued the man, hoarsely, "and get those brutessomething to keep 'em quiet; and I want a big drink. You three gofirst. "

Carey glanced at the doctor and then at Bostock, both of whom avoidedhis eye and went to the cabin entrance, leaving the boy to follow, feeling half-stunned and wondering whether they ought not to make someeffort to drive the intruders overboard. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note: Beachcomber. A white man who settles down in one of the South SeaIslands and lives by trading with the natives for copra--the driedkernels of cocoanuts--pearl shells, and the sea slug _Beche de mer_;often living by wrecking, kidnapping the natives, or any nefariousscheme. Many of them have been drunken, unprincipled scoundrels, theirranks in the old days having been recruited from the convicts escapedfrom Botany Bay or Norfolk Island. 

CHAPTER SIXTEEN. 

To Carey's rage and discomfiture he found that their captor treated himas the ship's boy, following Bostock to the store-room and ordering himto carry the most solid of the provisions to the blacks. 

"They won't want any knives and forks and plates, young 'un. Wait amoment. Where's the tobacco?"

This was produced in its tub, and in obedience to his orders Carey tookout twenty of the long square compressed cakes. 

"That's right. Twenty of 'em, and don't let either of the warmintsnatch two. "

"How am I to stop them?" said Carey, bitterly. 

"Got a fist, haven't you?"

Carey nodded shortly. 

"Hit the first as does in the mouth. "

"To be knocked down with a club, " said the boy, bitterly. 

"No one dare touch you, my lad, unless I give 'em leave. I'm king here, I tell you, and the black dogs know it. Be off. "

"You hideous, red-eyed brute!" said the boy to himself, as he took hisload and turned to go. "How I should like to--"

He did not mentally say what, for he was brought up short by the word"Stop!" roared in a bullying tone. 

"Here, you, " cried the man to Bostock, "light a lanthorn; it's dark ondeck. Follow him, and hold it till he's done. And look here, bring itaway again, or they'll be setting the ship afire. They can see in thedark like cats. They want no light. "

Bostock fetched a lanthorn, lit it in a surly way, and then went first, closely followed by Carey, who just caught sight of their captor pouringhimself out a tumbler of rum from a half-emptied bottle; but there wasno water near. 

"Bob, " panted the boy, as they reached the deck, "are we going to put upwith this?"

"Dunno yet, my lad, " growled the old sailor. "Not for long, I hope. Seems to me like me knocking that there red and white savage's head off, and then blowing up the ship. "

"But why doesn't the doctor do something?"

"Aren't made up his mind yet what to do, my lad, seemingly. He'shatching. That's what I think he's a-doing of. I s'pose we'd betterwait. "

"I can't wait, " whispered Carey, "I feel in such a rage, I must dosomething. "

"Take the prog to them black beasts then, sir, now. They aren't muchbetter than annymiles. "

"Look sharp, you two, and come back to the cabin, " came in a fierce, hoarse voice from the cabin stairs, proving that they were watched. 

"Come on, and get the dirty job done, Master Carey, " whispered Bostock. "I shall 'ave to kill somebody over this before I've done. "

Carey said nothing, but walked forward with his load, hearing thesavages, who were chattering loudly, suddenly cease as if listening, andthe next moment Black Jack came bounding to their side, looking eagerlyfrom one to the other. 

"Why can't you walk?" growled Bostock. "Can't you get over the deck, and not come hopping like a hingy-rubber ball, or one of yourkangaroos?"

"Kangaroo? Wallaby?" said the black. "Over there. Lots. "

"Go and join 'em then, you sable son of a three-legged pitch-pot. "

"Got meat?"

"Yes, " said Carey, and he served out the big lumps cut ready, whileBostock held the light, the blacks taking it steadily enough till allwere served, and Carey stood looking at them. 

Then a murmur arose, Black Jack shouting the one word "'bacco, " and hisfellows all joining. 

"Can't you wait a minute, you set o' undressed nigger minstrels?"growled Bostock. "There, give 'em the cakes o' 'bacco, sir, and I wishit would make 'em sick. "

Carey had placed the oblong squares of compressed leaf in his pocket, and he now took out half-a-dozen, the light being cast upon his handsand giving the boy a glimpse of one of the party in the act of making asnatch. 

Carey recalled his orders, and he was in the right humour for takingadvantage of it, for his blood was up, and he jumped at the opportunityof getting a little satisfaction out of his enemies. 

The black was quick, but the boy was equally so, and as the savage madea snatch, Carey's disengaged fist flew out in good school-boy fashion. There was the sound of a heavy blow, a yell, and the black bounded offthe deck, to come down again club in hand and grinning ferociously as heraised it as if to strike. 

Carey did not pause to think. 

"Ah, would you?" he cried, and he struck out again quick as lightning, striking the black on the right cheek and drawing back quickly, expecting a general attack for his pugnacity. 

But to his great surprise and satisfaction there was a yell of laughter, and the party danced round him, shouldering their fellow away, as in aseries of strange antics they displayed their delight at hisdiscomfiture. 

"'Bacco, 'bacco!" they kept on shouting, as they pressed round, eachtaking his portion eagerly enough, but there was no snatching, till allhad received a cake save the one who had been made to give way. 

"There you are, " cried Carey, holding out the last, but standing on hisguard so as to avoid an expected blow. 

But it did not come. The black took his cake and joined the others, togo back chattering to partake of their meal, while Carey and Bostockturned to go back to the cabin. 

"Now, I call that there plucky, " said the old sailor, gruffly. 

"What?" said Carey, wondering. 

"You hitting that walking blacking bottle twice over in the mouth. Idon't know as I should ha' dared. "

"Plucky!" said Carey, wonderingly. "You don't know what a fright I feltin when I did it; but I was in such a passion that I was obliged to hitsomething. "

"And so you did, sir, a regular smeller. I don't believe a French or aJarman boy would ha' done it. "

"Nonsense, Bob. "

"Oh, no, it aren't, my lad; it's some sense, and it's taught me a deal. "

"What do you mean?"

"Why, it's give me a feeling as we're going to get out o' this jobwithout being cooked and eaten. You see how they go down on their kneeslike to old Bottle-nose yonder?"

"Yes. "

"Well, it's because he's a white man and not a bit afraid of 'em. "

"Yes, of course; but we--I mean, I am. "

"Not you, sir. Didn't look like it just now. Well, you're a white un. I won't call you a white man; that would be gammoning you, because manyou aren't yet. But you're a plucked un, and they was all delighted tosee you hit their mate. Well, you go on like that, and they'll beafraid of you. There's something in a white skin as is too much forthem, and you've only got to let 'em see that you don't care a quid o''bacco for their blunt wood sticks and knob clubs, to keep 'em wherethey ought to be, down--right down. For they're only good enough tomake door-mats to wipe your shoes on. Eat us? I should like to ketch'em at it!"

"I shouldn't, Bob. "

"Ah, well, I didn't quite mean that, sir; it was only a way o'speaking. "

"Are you two chaps going to be all night?" came in a fierce voice fromthe cabin stairs. 

Carey stepped up to the speaker directly. 

"My black pack haven't worried you, then?" said the man, with a grinwhich showed two or three yellow teeth. "I began to think they'd eatenyou raw, as you didn't come back. There, I don't want to starve you;get below and have your supper along with your mate. I've half donemine. "

They went into the saloon, to find the doctor waiting for them with somefood ready at one end of the table, while at the other the beachcomber'sstood, consisting of a ship's biscuit and about half of the bottle ofrum, which he had taken possession of before they came back. 

"Get your prog, my lads, and then go to sleep. And look here, don't youeither of you try any games, or maybe you won't see daylight again. "

As may be supposed, the trio had not much appetite for their suppers, but they made pretence of eating, and saw that their captor was watchingthem all the time, sipping his neat rum and nibbling a little of thehard biscuit, which he softened a little at times by dipping it in hisrum glass. 

"Now then, " he said at last, "is that your cabin?"

"It is mine, " said the doctor. 

"All right. Go in then, all three of you. "

"I don't sleep here, " growled Bostock. "I've got a bunk below. "

"You'll go in there, " said the man, fiercely. 

"But there aren't room. "

"Sleep on the floor then. "

Bostock turned to the doctor, but the latter's eye was averted, and hemade no sign, nor spoke. 

"All right, " growled the old sailor, and he turned to Carey. "I won'tsnore more'n I can help, sir, " he said. "It aren't my fault. "

"In with you all, " said the beachcomber, roughly; "and look here, I'mgoing to sit here a bit to finish my physic, so don't come out anddisturb me. My black pack used to come prowling round sometimes of anight, but they never do now. "

As he spoke he took out a revolver and cocked it, before laying it downbeside his tumbler of spirits with a meaning look. 

"Are we to consider ourselves prisoners, sir?" said the doctor, speakingat last. 

"Dunno, " was the reply, shortly given. "All depends. If you ride thehigh horse I may tell my pack to set you ashore somewhere else, but ifyou're civil--well, we shall see. Only just recollect this, and don'targue. These are my islands all round here, and all that comes ashore'smine. Now go to bed. "

He threw himself back in his chair and raised the glass to his lips, andwithout a word the three prisoners filed into the state-room, and thedoor swung to and clicked behind them. 

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. 

They were in total darkness, but Bostock took out his match-box andstruck a light to apply to the lamp, which he coolly proceeded toregulate, and then turned to wait for the doctor to speak. 

Doctor Kingsmead was standing with the veins in his forehead swollen, his teeth set, and his hands clenched. 

"The dog--the brutal ruffian!" he said, as if talking to himself. "Sohelpless. Quite at his mercy. Seemed like a coward and a cur. "

"No, you didn't, " said Carey, shortly. "We were taken by surprise, andthey're seven to one, and all armed. "

The doctor turned to him sharply. 

"Seven to one?" he said. 

"Yes, I counted them; twenty black fellows and him. "

"And threes into twenty-one goes seven times, " growled Bostock. 

"Yes, yes, seven to one, " said the doctor, drawing a deep breath, "andthe ruffian has us at his mercy, for those black fellows would rush atus at a word, like the black pack he calls them. It's plain enough theyhave been within sight in a canoe, and reported to him what they saw. The scoundrel has, no doubt, played the part of wrecker for years andtaken possession of every unfortunate vessel that has come ashore, plundered and burnt it. "

"Humph!" growled Bostock. 

"What do you say?"

"On'y grunted, sir. That's it. I've heard tell of chaps like him hereand there in the South Seas. They knocks a few of the black fellows orcoffee-coloured ones down, and makes 'em afraid, and then they do asthey like, sir. "

"But is it true about their eating people?" said Carey, in a low voice, and he glanced at the door as if half-expecting to be overheard. 

"Oh, yes, sir, that's true enough. Our captain once said, when we had areport of a ship going ashore and the crew being massacred, that thesechaps in some of the islands get such a little chance to have anythingbut fruit and fish that they're as rav'nous as wild beasts for flesh. "

"Yes, yes, true enough, " said the doctor. "So unfortunate for them tocome when we were away. We could have defended the vessel easily. "

"That means fighting, sir, " growled Bostock. 

"Yes; wouldn't you have struck a blow to defend the vessel?"

"Well, you see, sir, I'm only a sailor and not a fighting man, " saidBostock, slowly. 

"You coward!" cried Carey, indignantly. "Why, boy as I am, I'd havetried to do something, if it was only reloading the guns. "

"Course you would, sir; I know that, " said the old sailor, quietly. "Didn't you give that there nigger a smeller just now?"

"What!" cried the doctor, sharply. 

"Got in a temper with one of 'em for trying to steal more'n his share o''bacco, sir, and give him two, one in the mouth and one in the cheek. Stop a moment; let's tell the truth if I die for it. Warn't one o' themcracks on the nose, sir?"

"Oh, I don't know, " said Carey, hurriedly. "But I did think at a timelike this, you'd have been ready to fight, Bostock. "

"Bob, if it's all same to you, Master Carey, and I didn't say I warn'tready to fight. Why, o' course I will at the proper time. "

"Then I beg your pardon, Bos--"

"Bob, sir. "

"Well, Bob then, for we can't sit down quietly like this. "

"That's what I think, sir, but I aren't the skipper, and it's what thedoctor says as'll have to be done. "

"Yes, of course, Bostock, " said the doctor, hastily; "but I was soabsolutely stunned by this surprise. "

"Yes, sir, reg'lar took aback, I know. "

"I have not known what to do or say. I must have time to think. "

"That's it, sir. I know you've got to make your plans. Bit o'scheming, because we none on us want one o' them dirty black warmint'sskewers run through us. You make up your mind what to do, and tell mewhich rope I'm to pull, and I'll spit on my hands and haul like a man. "

"Yes, yes, I know you will, " said the doctor. "As to that oldbeachcomber, sir, shooting aren't in my way, but 'volvers or no'volvers, you give the word when you're ready and I'll chuck himoverboard to get some water to mix with his rum; and I believe that'd bedoing a good action. "

"Yes, " said the doctor. "Look here. That man can't go on drinkingstrong spirit as he does without soon being quite prostrate. "

Bostock looked at the speaker with an expression of disgust and contemptupon his face. 

"I What, sir? Do you think that old rough would ever drink enough rumto make him stupid?"

"Of course. "

"Never, sir. He just about lives on it. Bound to say he's gone on fora score o' years. Didn't you see as he only nibbled a biscuit?"

"Yes, I noticed that, " said Carey, quickly. 

"Yes, sir. Rum won't have no more effect on him than tea would on youand me. You try another idea, sir. What do you say to frightening themblack fellows overboard? They're a rum lot; just like a pack o'children. Frightened o' bogies. Show 'em a good scarecrow or tattydooly, as the Scotch folk call it, and they'd think it was what theycall a bunyip. "

"What's a bunyip?"

"What they calls a debble-debble, sir. They're awful babies in anythingthey can't understand. You must give 'em some red fire, or blue fire, or 'lectricity. "

"Wait, wait, wait, " said the doctor, impatiently. "We must temporise. It is no use to try and do anything in haste. The first thing we haveto find out is whether that ruffian goes off to sleep or keeps watch. "

Carey pointed to the ventilator over the door. 

"I could see through that, " he whispered, "if you could take me on yourshoulders. "

Bostock nodded, and placed his hands firmly on the sides of the door, bending down his head and standing as firm as a rock, while Carey'sfirst instinct was to take a run and a jump; but he did not, for onereason, there was not room, another, that it would have been folly; buthe placed his hand upon the man's shoulders and steadily climbed up tillhe could stand stooping upon his back, and then he cautiously peeredthrough a little crack, and the first thing he saw was the beachcombersitting back fast asleep. 

This sent a thrill of satisfaction through him, and he turned his eyestowards the saloon door, and a chill of horror ran through him, for hecaught sight of something bright and flashing, and it was a few momentsbefore he grasped the fact that it was the lamp reflected from the eyesof one of the blacks close to the floor. 

Nearly a minute elapsed before he could make out the black figure oftheir owner, and then he saw it move. 

It was plain enough now as it crept in and nearer to the shaded rays ofthe lamp. Carey could even see that the black had his club and thecurved knife-like blade of his boomerang stuck behind in the coarse hairgirdle he wore about his waist. 

"Why, he's creeping in to kill his master, " was the boy's first thought, and a chill of horror ran through him. 

The black crept slowly and silently over the floor of the saloon, andCarey would have uttered words of warning to his companions, but hecould not speak, every faculty seeming frozen, save that he could see;and he stared wildly as he saw now two more pairs of eyes and a coupleof the blacks creep in silently, but only to stop at the door, squattingon their heels, as if watching their leader. 

The latter took up Carey's whole attention now, and he waited to see himtake out his club before he uttered a warning shout to the sleeping man, for he felt that he could not stand and see him murdered in cold blood. 

The black crept on till he was quite close to the sleeper, and then herose, squatted like his companions, and at last raised his hand. 

The warning cry rose to Carey's lips, but it did not leave them, for theblack did not bring out his club, but softly took down the empty glass, smelt it and then thrust in a long black finger, passed it round andsucked it, repeating the action several times, till he could get no moresuggestion of the taste of the spirit, when he replaced the glass, tosit staring at the bottle; but he did not touch it, only squatted therelike a great dog watching over his master, while his two companionsremained silent as a couple of black statues at the door. 

That was enough, and Carey softly dropped down and whispered what he hadseen to his companions. 

"And they could brain the old scoundrel at any moment with their clubs, "said the doctor. "It is astonishing. "

"Yes, sir, " said Bostock, softly; "but aren't it a bit like big savagedogs as I've seen? They could take a man by the throat and shake thelife out of him in a minute, but they don't. They sits and watches overhim, and it'd be an ugly business for any one as attempted to touch him. He's got hold of the black fellows, sir, and can do just what he likeswith 'em. That's how it is there. "

"That makes our position more difficult, " said the doctor. 

"Well, it do, sir; but if I might make so bold, I should like to proposesomething. "

"Yes, by all means, Bostock. What is it?"

"You sleep on it, sir, and see how you feel in the morning--both on you, and I'll take the watch. "

"It is impossible to sleep to-night, " said the doctor, with a sigh. 

"Yes; suppose those blacks were to take it into their heads to come andfinish us. "

"Nay, they won't do that, sir. Besides, I shall be on the watch. "

"No, " said the doctor; "you and Carey will lie down and sleep if youcan. I will take the watch. Do as I tell you at once. "

"But it isn't fair, sir, " said Carey, protesting. 

"I must be obeyed in this time of emergency, " said the doctor, sternly. "Lie down and sleep if you can, and I will try and think out some way ofproceeding. Good-night. "

Ten minutes later the doctor was sitting with his back to the door, andin spite of all that had gone by and the belief that he could not sleepa wink in the midst of the peril, Carey dropped off fast, and Bostock'sloud breathing told that he had followed suit, while the three blackssquatted there hour after hour, watching their master and tyrant like somany faithful hounds. 

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. 

Carey opened his eyes just at sunrise, feeling, as a healthy lad should, light-hearted and happy; for he was perfectly unconscious of all thathad taken place overnight till he turned his head a little and sawDoctor Kingsmead with his arm resting against the side, gazing out ofthe open port. 

Then it all came to him, and he felt horribly selfish and miserable. 

"Oh, doctor!" he cried. 

"Ah, Carey, lad!" said the doctor, starting and turning to him. "Morning. You've had a capital sleep. "

"Yes, and you watching there. Why didn't you rouse me up to take myturn?"

"I've not been watching all the night. I sat thinking till I felt thatit was of no use to worry any longer, and then I dropped asleep. I'venot been awake now for more than half an hour. "

"Ah, that's better, " said Carey, raising himself a little to looktowards the door, to see Bostock lying across it, turning himself into ahuman bar to prevent any one from entering without waking him up. Hewas now on his back, sleeping heavily, with his mouth open. 

The doctor looked at him too and then smiled sadly at Carey. 

"I say, " said the latter, "it seems rum, doesn't it, for us threeprisoners to go off to sleep like that without minding a bit?"

"Nature will have her own way, " said the doctor. 

"Eh? Right, sir! I--well, look at that now! It's a rum 'un. "

Bostock had suddenly awakened, and he now rose quickly and stared atCarey. 

"I say, I aren't been asleep all night, have I?"

"Yes, Bob. There, it's all right. "

"Well, they haven't killed and eaten us, sir; but I don't like this. You ought to ha' wakened me, doctor. "

"I was not awake myself, Bostock. "

"Oh! That was it, was it?" said the old sailor, shaking his head andlooking very serious. "Then about work, sir; what's the first thing?Shall I see about breakfast?"

The doctor was silent for a few moments. 

"Yes, " he said at last. "I have thought over our position again thismorning, and it seems to me that the best thing to do, if we areallowed, is to go on quietly and submit, until a good opportunityoccurs--say of the blacks going ashore in their canoe. "

"And then seize the vessel again?" said Carey, eagerly. 

"And chuck Mr King Beachcomber overboard, sir, " whispered Bostock. 

"Or make him prisoner till we can hand him over to the authorities, "said the doctor. 

"But there are no authorities to hand him over to, sir, " said Carey. 

"Have patience, my lad; we never know what may happen. We had a pieceof bad luck last night; to-day we may have a bit of good. Yes, we'll goon as usual. See to the breakfast. "

"Right, sir, " cried the old sailor, and he turned the handle of the doorwithout effect. 

"Locked?" said Carey, in a hoarse whisper. 

"Can't say, sir, but it's made fast somehow. "

To the surprise of all, though, the door was opened the next moment, andtheir captor stood before them, looking from one to the other, while ata glance Carey saw that the blacks had disappeared. 

"Come out of that, " growled the ruffian, sourly. "I want somebreakfast; and you, sailor chap, get out rations of beef or pork for mypack. They'll be hungry again by this time. Light the fire first, andlet's have some tea soon. "

Carey involuntarily glanced at the bottle on the table, and saw that itwas empty. He saw, too, that his glance was noticed, for thebeachcomber said with a hoarse laugh:

"Oh, yes, I drink tea too. But put another bottle of that stuff on thetable as well. "

They passed out into the saloon, and Carey made at once for the door. 

"Where are you going, boy?" cried the beachcomber. 

"To get a bucket of fresh water and have a sluice, " replied Carey, sulkily, for he objected to be called "boy. "

"Humph! You look clean enough, " growled the man. "Be off then, andmake haste back to get breakfast. "

Carey stepped back to catch up a towel, and then went to the saloondoorway and out on deck. 

"Yes, I'll come back soon, and I'll help, " muttered the boy through histeeth; "but only wait till I get my chance. Brrrr!" he snarled, "how itall makes me feel as if I should like to do something to somebody. "

He walked sharply to where the bucket he used every morning stood ready, with a line attached to the handle; but before he reached it, there wasthe soft pattering of feet, and the pack of black fellows came runningto meet him, headed by Black Jack, who stopped short close upon the boyto strike an attitude, making a hideous grimace, and poising his spearwith one hand while he rested it upon the fingers of the other as if tosteady it for hurling, while his companions snatched melon-headed clubsor boomerangs from out of the cord-like girdles which supported a broadshell hanging in front. 

Carey had not had his breakfast, a fact which added fuel to the hottemper he was already in, consequent upon his treatment in the saloon. 

Feeling perfectly reckless and irritated by the action of the nakedblacks, and the most utter contempt for their childish attempt tofrighten him, Carey's temper boiled over. 

"Out of the way, you black monkey, " he cried, and, treating thethreatening spear with the most perfect contempt, he made a dash at theblack and flicked at him sharply with the towel, catching him with asmart crack on the thigh and making him utter a yell, as he boundedback, dropping his spear and stooping to rub the place. 

As soon as Carey had delivered the flick so dexterously, one oftenpractised on bathing excursions when at school, he repented, fullyexpecting that the others would rush upon him with their clubs. 

But to his utter astonishment and relief, they uttered a shout ofdelight on seeing their leader's discomfiture, and some broke into atriumphal dance, chattering and laughing, while three of the party threwthemselves on deck and rolled about in convulsions of mirth. 

"I don't care, " muttered Carey; "I'll let them see I'm not afraid ofthem, " and, without pausing now, he walked to the side, caught up thebucket, and twisting one end of the line round his left hand, went tothe open gangway of that side of the vessel to throw down the bucketinto the clear, cool water. 

But he paused, for just beneath him, fastened by ropes, were a smallwhale-boat and an outrigger canoe. 

He walked farther, and as soon as he was clear of the two craft, he sentthe bucket down topsy-turvy so that it filled; hauled it up and turnedto find himself hemmed in by a semi-circle of blacks. 

Again acting on the impulse of the moment, Carey placed a second hand tothe bucket and gave it a quick swing round, discharging its contents inan arc, with the intention of dowsing the savages; but they were tooquick for him, bounding back, grinning with delight at their cleverness, but coming forward again, laughing like a pack of mischievous boys totempt him to throw again. 

"Oh, I'm not going to keep on at that, " muttered Carey, as he raised thebucket again and threw it overboard for a fresh supply; and as soon ashe had it up, he knelt down by it, had a good sluice, and rose to begintowelling, while the grinning blacks looked on. 

As he finished, with the towel now well damped, he made believe to throwthe water over his audience, and as they bounded away, he hurled thecontents over the side, put down the bucket under the bulwarks andturned to go back to the cabin, making the wet towel snap like a whip ashe flicked at first one and then at another of the naked bodies sotemptingly displayed, the blacks roaring with laughter as they leapedand bounded about to avoid the cuts; but far from showing any resentmentagainst the boy, evidently treating it all as a magnificent piece offun. 

The boy left them chattering and laughing, Black Jack as merry as therest, while the object of their mirth began to wonder at the power heseemed to have exercised over the pack of childlike savages, and to askhimself whether there was anything in these people to mind. 

"But dogs will bite if they are set at any one by their master, " the boysaid to himself in conclusion, and found himself face to face with theman of whom he had been thinking. 

"Oh, there you are, " he said, sourly. "Go and help them with therations, and then go and feed the black dogs. "

Carey nodded, and from some half-conceived and misty notion that hecould not even analyse to himself, more than that it had something to dowith trying to make himself as much master of the black fellows as thebeachcomber seemed to be, he went about the work with alacrity, findingBostock with his jacket off and sleeves rolled up, fast filling a basketwith ship's biscuit. 

"I s'pose I shall have to boil up a lot of the men's pork, MasterCarey, " he said. "The black beggars must be satisfied with biscuit thismorning. "

"I'll take it to them, Bob, " said Carey. "I say, though, can you find ajar of molasses?"

"Ay, there's plenty, my lad. Going to give 'em that?"

"Yes, look sharp. "

In another minute or so, the jar was brought out of the store, and Careyprovided himself with a big iron cooking spoon, and thus armed and withbasket and jar, he made his way towards the deck, to be met directly bythe blacks, ready to chatter, grin, and dance about him, as he brusquelywalked right through them till well forward, where he seated himself ona ship's fender and set the basket and jar before him. 

Black Jack did not seem to display the slightest animosity as he pressedforward, grinning and showing a set of the whitest teeth. 

"Whar bull cow meat?" he cried. "Baal beef. "

"None cooked yet, " said Carey, shortly. 

"What dat?" he cried, and his hand darted at the treacle jar. 

_Crack_!

Carey was as quick, bringing the iron spoon down heavily on the black'shand, making him utter a sharp cry as he snatched it away, sending hiscompanions into an ecstasy of delight, and making them dance about andtwist and writhe. 

Black Jack clapped the back of his hand to his mouth, and then, as ifthe injury were not of the slightest consequence, he pointed now at thejar, in which the boy was inserting the big spoon. 

"Dat not good, " he shouted. "Dat mumkull, kill a fellar. Chuck um--chuck um away. "

"Ah, you thick-headed, tar-faced idiot!" cried Carey. "Not good, indeed! I suppose you want raspberry jam. " And he brought out thespoon covered with the stringy treacle, turned it a few times and placeda great dab on one of the biscuits. 

"Baal good!" cried Black Jack, angrily. "Mumkull. Black fellow. Chuckum 'way. "

He made a snatch at the biscuit, but down came the spoon on his blackhand. 

"Yah!" he yelled, and clapped the treacly place to his mouth, tasted themolasses, and the fierce look died out, his countenance expanding into agrin as he sucked, and then in good animal fashion began to lick, holding out his other hand for the biscuit. 

The next minute he was munching away in a high state of delight, whilethe others crowded round with hands extended, and were served as fast asthe boy could place dabs of the sticky syrup on the hard biscuits. 

They crowded him so that several times over he whisked the spoon round, giving one a dab on the hand, another on the cheek, while one had atopper on his thick, black-haired head--all these rebuffs being receivedwith shouts of laughter, the recipients setting to work at once toprevent the saccharine mess from being wasted. 

But at last all were supplied, and the boy rested for half a minute, looking at the merry, delighted crowd with good-humoured contempt. 

"Well, you are a set of savages, " he said. 

"More--gib more, " cried Black Jack, who had just finished. 

"You look a pretty sticky beauty, " said Carey. 

"Berry 'ticky good, " said Black Jack. "Gib more; plenty 'ticky. "

Carey took another biscuit from the basket and put a very small dab oftreacle upon it, to the black's great disgust. 

"No, no, no!" he yelled, with childlike annoyance. "Plenty 'ticky--plenty 'ticky. "

"Not good, " said Carey, mockingly. "Kill a black fellow. "

Black Jack's face expanded again into a tremendous grin. 

"Yah!" he cried; "baal mumkull. Good--good--good!"

"There you are, then, " said Carey, giving the spoon a twirl and dabbinga goodly portion on the biscuit. "That do?"

"Good, plenty 'ticky, " cried the savage, gumming his face gloriously andgrinding up the biscuit as easily as if it were a cracknel. 

By this time the others were finishing, and for another quarter of anhour the boy was kept busy at work, to find in the very thick of it thathe had an addition to his audience in the shape of the coarse-facedbeachcomber, who looked less ferocious now, with his countenancesoftened by a good-humoured grin. 

"Feeding 'em up then, " he said. "Mind they don't finish up by eatingyou. "

"I'm not afraid of that, " said Carey, shortly. 

"Aren't you? Well, perhaps we shall see. But it's your turn now:breakfast. Come on. "

Carey followed him without a word, and, like his companions inadversity, ate the meal in silence. 

CHAPTER NINETEEN. 

The doctor made no opposition and showed no sign of resentment, for hewas biding his time. The beachcomber asked questions and he answeredthem, about the lading of the vessel; but both Carey and Bostock noticedthat he carefully avoided all reference to the bullion that was onboard. 

Later on in the morning the invader announced his intention ofinspecting the stores, and made his prisoners march before him and showhim all they could; it was hot and stifling between-decks, and he wassoon tired and ordered all on deck, where he had a long look round, andat last caught sight of something on shore. 

"Hullo, here!" he cried, turning his fists into a binocular glasswithout lenses; "who's been meddling with my pearl-oyster grounds?"

The doctor, being referred to in this question, turned to the man andlaughed bitterly. 

"Your pearl-oyster grounds!" he said, in a tone full of the contempt hefelt. 

The man thrust his unpleasant-looking face close to the doctor's. 

"Yes, " he said, with an ugly smile; "mine. Didn't I tell you beforethat all the reefs and islands here, and all that's on them or comesashore on them's mine? Someone's been meddling over yonder andcollecting and stacking shells; someone's been sinking tubs and rottingthe oysters to get my pearls. It's been done by your orders, eh?"

"Yes, " said the doctor, quietly; "I suppose I am to blame for it. "

"Ho! Well, I suppose you did it for me, so I won't complain. Here, bring out the box. "

"What box?" said the doctor. 

"What box?" roared the man, fiercely; "why, the box o' pearls you've gotput away. Now don't you put me out, young fellow, because when I'm putout I'm ugly. Ask Black Jack what I can do when I'm ugly. He canunderstand and talk English enough to tell you. "

"I tell you this, " began the doctor, but he was stopped by a growl thatmight have emanated from some savage beast. 

"You wait till I've done. Coo-ee!"

"Coo-ee!" came in answer, and Black Jack rushed forward in a series ofbounds, nulla-nulla in one hand, boomerang in the other. 

"Here, Jack, what do I do when I'm ugly?"

"Mumkull--killa fellar, " said the black, grinning as if it were a finejoke. "Mumkull now?" he continued, with his eyes beginning to lookwild, as he turned them questioningly on one after the other. 

"Not yet. Get out. "

The black darted away again as quickly as he had come. 

"That chap's a child o' nature, young fellow, " said the beachcomber, scowling; "so I say to you, don't you try to gammon me. Fetch out thatbox. "

"How can he, " cried Carey, boldly, "when he hasn't got one?"

"What?" roared the man, clapping his hand upon his revolver, and turningfiercely upon the boy. "What's that?"

"You heard what I said, " cried Carey, in no way daunted. "Why, wehaven't tried one of the tubs yet. "

"Good job for you, " growled the man, fiercely, as he tried to look Careydown; but the boy did not for a moment wince. "You're a nice impruntyoung cock bantam, though. But you're shivering in your shoes all thesame--aren't you?"

He made a snatch at the boy's shoulder, but quick as thought Careystruck at the coming hand, catching it heavily with his fist and eludingthe touch. 

"Don't do that, " he cried, fiercely, "you know I've got a bad shoulder. "

"Why, you insolent young cock-sparrow, I've a good mind to--No, Iwon't--I'll let them do it by-and-by. "

He jerked his head sidewise in the direction of the blacks, who wereeagerly watching and seeing everything, the sight of the boy striking attheir white king sending a thrill of excitement through them; however, they did not advance, but stood watching and noting that the beachcomberwas laughing heartily. 

"I like pluck in a boy, " he growled. "Hi, coo-ee. "

Black Jack darted to his side, with eyes flashing and nostrilsdistended. 

"Boat, " said the man, abruptly. 

Black Jack shouted something incomprehensible, and three of the blackfellows bounded to the side and disappeared into the whale-boat withtheir leader. 

"Now then, " said the beachcomber, "you stop aboard, cookey, and getsomething ready for dinner. Hi, Black Jack. Fish. Tell 'em. "

"Tell boys kedgee fis'?"

The beachcomber nodded, and the black shouted again, with the resultthat six more of the blacks came running to the side and dropped overinto the canoe. 

"Hi, Jack, tell the others, if cookey here--"

"Dis cookey?" asked the black, touching Carey on the head. 

"No, stupid. That one. "

"Iss. Dat cookey, " and he nodded and grinned at Bostock. 

"Tell 'em if cookey tries to get away, mumkull. "

"Iss. Mumkull, " and the black darted forward, to return with theremaining ten, all grinning, to seat themselves in a row, spear in hand, upon the starboard bulwarks, staring hard at Bostock, who tried toappear perfectly calm and composed; but his face twitched a little. 

"They'd better not try to mumkull me, " he whispered to Carey. "Two canplay at that game. But what's he going to do?"

"Now then, " cried the beachcomber, "into the boat with you. I'm goingto have those casks tapped and see what the stuff's like. Hi! Jack, take some buckets in the boat. "

The black darted about and secured three buckets, which he tossed overthe side into the boat. 

"Now then, down with you, " growled the beachcomber, and Carey and thedoctor had to go, leaving Bostock with his eyes far more wide open thanusual. 

"I wish the doctor would talk to me, " said Carey to himself as he tookhis seat in the well-formed whale-boat, which he rightly supposed musthave come ashore somewhere on this ocean king's dominions. "He is sohorribly quiet. "

Then the boy looked at Black Jack and his three companions, who as soonas their ruler was in his place, gun in hand, thrust out their oars andbegan rowing with the skill and jerk of men-o'-war's men. 

A minute later he was watching the outrigger canoe being paddled alongquickly, its occupants trailing mother-o'-pearl baits behind, and soonafter he saw them hook and drag in a fish. 

Then Carey turned to gaze at the shore they were approaching with abitter feeling of resentment arising as he thought of all their labourin the hot sunshine, collecting and piling up the great pearl shells, and more bitterly still as he dwelt upon the tubs of liquid andliquefying oysters which would, he did not doubt, now have quite a thickdeposit of pearls at their bottoms. 

"Oh, it does seem so hard for that ruffian to get them!" he said tohimself, and he sat there with his teeth set, gazing straight beforehim, till he caught Black Jack's eyes twinkling laughingly at him asthat individual shone like a well-polished pair of boots, and glistenedin the sun, while he lustily pulled stroke. 

As soon as he caught Carey's eye he laughed loudly, and in the mostperfectly good-humoured way, as if they were the very best of friends, and when the beachcomber was looking another way he raised one hand togo through the pantomime of licking treacle off his fingers and rubbinghis front, to the delight of his toiling companions. 

It did Carey good, and he smiled back, and nodded. 

"I don't believe they'd hurt me, " he said to himself. "They're justlike a lot of schoolboys, only so much uglier. "

The beachcomber made a movement, and the blacks' faces were in a flashlike so much carved ebony, and they rowed on, choosing as if from oldhabit the way into the canal-like passage among the rocks, and leapingout at the home-made wharf. Here they held the boat steady in a regularnaval style, while their chief and his companions stepped out, theformer using the black backs for support, for big and strong as he washis obese state made him far from active. 

"That's the way I taught 'em, " he said, with a grim smile at Carey, whonodded back, said nothing, but thought very deeply, his fancies takingthe direction of wondering whether the wretched tyrant would ever go toofar with his followers, and they would kill and eat him. 

His thoughts took a fresh current directly, for the subject of themshouted the one word, "Buckets!" and after making the boat fast the crewcame running with the buckets to where the beachcomber was now standingexamining the first tub, which happened to be the last filled, and hegrowled, moved to the next, and then on and on to the last. 

"Here you are, Jack; this first. "

The black fellow nodded, looked in the tub, and then as if quite at homeat the work, picked up the great bamboo lying ready for the purpose andset two of his followers to give all the other tubs a good stir-up, theresult being a most horrible odour of such extent that, but for thebreeze blowing and their getting on the windward side, it would havebeen unbearable. 

But it had not the slightest effect upon the beachcomber, who stoodlooking on while Black Jack and a companion heaved together and tried tooverturn the oldest tub, but without result. 

A yell to the other two brought them up, and with their aid the tub ofmalodorous thick water was gradually overturned, and the foul waterpoured off, to sink at once into the thirsty sand. 

"Hold hard, " cried the beachcomber, when the bottom was nearly reached. "Water. "

Three black fellows ran off with a bucket each and returned to Jack, whopoured one in and gave it a swirl round, handed the bucket to berefilled, allowed the contents of the tub to settle, and then began topour out the top very gently. 

Carey was so intensely interested that for the time being he forgot hispainful position. 

"I say, " he cried, "these black chaps have done this sort of thingbefore. "

"Hundreds of times, " growled their chief, and then he was silent, whileeven the doctor began to feel that his eagerness to see the contents ofthe tub was mastering his misery and disappointment that the pearlsshould fall into such hands. 

So they watched till half a dozen buckets had been severally poured inand emptied out, and then there was a hoarse chuckle from thebeachcomber. 

"I'll forgive yer, " he growled. "You aren't done so badly for me. That's a nice take o' pearls, and there's some fine big uns among 'em. Up higher, Jack, and let the sun dry them a bit. Next one. "

The tub was tilted so that the last drops of water could run out whilethe next was being emptied. 

Carey's eyes met the doctor's, and the boy ground his teeth softly as hegazed in at the soft lustrous pearls drying rapidly from the heat of theair. 

There they lay along the side of the great cask, seed pearls, pearls offair size, and here and there great almond-shaped ones, while fewest ofall were the softly rounded perfectly shaped gems, running from the sizeof goodly peas to here and there that of small marbles, lustrous, soft, and of that delicate creamy tint that made them appear like solidifieddrops of molten moonlight, fallen to earth in the silence of sometropical night. 

The doctor shrugged his shoulders and turned away to watch the emptyingof the next tub, which ended with even better result than the first. 

"Bucket, " said the beachcomber, when this second watering had come to anend, and Jack, who knew what was expected of him, took a bunch of grassto make a brush, crept into the first tub, and while one of his fellowsheld the bucket ready, the pearls, worth scores, perhaps hundred ofpounds, were swept into it. 

The next tub was served the same, and then after the other tubs had hada final stir the beachcomber cried abruptly:

"On board. That's enough for to-day. I'm dying for a drink. "

"Oh, " muttered Carey to himself, "I wish I could stop you drinking. "

CHAPTER TWENTY. 

The party which had been out with the canoe reached the vessel with agoodly supply of beautiful fish just at the same time as the whale-boatwith the treasured-up pearls, over which Mallam had sat chuckling allthe way back, pointing out to Carey the beauties of the large ones, andglancing furtively the while at the doctor in his delight over thatgentleman's discomfiture. 

Carey was bitterly annoyed, but he took it all pretty coolly. 

"All right, old gentleman, " he said to himself. "You've only set yourslaves to work and washed and cleaned them for us; we'll have them allback again when you've cleaned the rest. "

But Carey had not been without his anxious feelings, though, all thetime, regarding Bostock; and his first glance as he ascended the side ofthe stranded steamer was directed to the spot where he had last seen theold sailor with the row of black fellows watching him. 

But a chill ran through the boy, for there was no sign of Bostock, andthe ten blacks, his guards, were all forward in a cluster. 

Carey sighed with relief the next minute, for, hearing them on deck, hethrust his head out of the cook's galley, and the boy grasped the factthat Bostock was busy preparing dinner, and the blacks were attractedthere by the smell. 

Directly after the old sailor had an addition to his work in the shapeof fish to fry, and Carey seized the opportunity the examination of thefish afforded to whisper to the old sailor. 

"Well, " he said, "you're all right. "

"Yes, I'm all right, my lad, but I were a bit mouldy when I saw you go, and went and got ready for action. "

"Yes? What did you do?"

"Went and shoved the poker in the oven stove, sir; for I says to myselfthey tames lions and tigers in wild beast shows with red-hot irons, andif these here wild, black fellows tries on any of their games with me, I'll try if I can't tame them. "

"Capital!" said Carey, eagerly. 

"I calls that an out-and-out good idee, Master Carey, and look here, sir, when it comes for a strike for liberty, I'll undertake to tacklethe black uns with a couple o' hot pokers and a few kettles o' boilingwater, and if I don't clear the deck I'm a Dutchman, which can't be, forI was born in Bromley-by-Bow. "

"We'll win yet, Bob, " whispered Carey, eagerly. 

"Course we will, my lad, only take it coolly, and go about as if yourcomb were reg'larly cut and your spurs took off. I say. "

"Yes?"

"I shall expect you and the doctor to tackle Old King Cole. "

"Yes, yes, but we must have arms. "

"Course you must. You wait. "

"Yes. Were the blacks civil to you?"

"Yes, but they sat and gloated over me as if they were picking outtit-bits, sir, till I felt all cold down the back, and as it didn't seemthe ripe time for the hot poker, for they didn't begin to show fight, Ithought I'd try a bit o' civility. "

"Yes, what did you do?"

"Give 'em a civiliser. "

"I don't understand you, Bob. Oh, you mean you gave them some spirits. "

"Tchah! Think I'm off my head, sir? Sperrits? Why, ever so littledrives those black chaps mad as hatters. No, " whispered the old sailor, with a low chuckle, "I beckoned to one of 'em, and he come down off therail where he'd been sitting in a row like a tame monkey with his mates, and he followed me, club in hand, to the stooard's place, where I got abig jar and a table fork, and brought it back on deck to where his mateswere waiting, and down they hopped as soon as they saw the jar, andbegan to dance round, singing, `'ticky! 'ticky!' in a regular chorus. "

"Ah, " cried Carey, "they heard Black Jack call the molasses sticky. "

"Soon, though, as I cut the string and pulled off the bladder cover, andthey saw it was all yaller, they began to show their teeth and snarl. `'Ticky! 'Ticky!' they says again, but `all right, my lads, ' I says, and I sticks the fork into an onion, winks at 'em, and pops it into mymouth. Then I does the same with a gherkin, and, my word, didn't theyall change their tune! Everyone wanted a taste, so I gives the fork tothe chap as come with me, makes him squat down, and claps the big brownjar between his legs. "

"Mixed pickles!" cried Carey, eagerly. 

"Piccadilly, sir, " said the old sailor, correctively. "Then I makes allthe rest sit round him in what you calls a silly circle. "

"Silly circle!" cried Carey, laughing. "I should think it was!"

"That's right, sir--a black silly circle. `There you are, grinningidgits, ' I says; `now amuse yourselves with that, and while you're busyI'll go and cook the dinner and see if I can't get hold o' something forthe Guvnors to cook Old King Cole's goose. '"

"And did they eat the pickles?" said Carey, eagerly. 

"Eat 'em, sir? That they did, very slow and careful too as soon as theyfound what they were like. They played fair too, each chap taking hisbit in turn like young birds in a nest, beak wide open, bit o'cauliflower or a couple o' French beans popped in, beak shut, and theneach chap shut his eyes, jumped up, and danced. "

"Just like children, " said Carey. 

"They seemed to think the beans was some kind o' worms or grubs, sir, and when it come to the capsicums, the chaps as got 'em rolledthemselves on the deck with delight, and all the rest wanted 'em too. But I didn't stop long; I was off, and they took no more notice o' metill I began cooking, when they stood about to grin and smell. I got'em, though, " said Bostock, mysteriously. 

"Got what?"

"Three double guns, three revolvers, and a box o' cartridges. "

"Oh!" whispered Carey, excitedly. "Where are they?"

"Rolled up in what's left o' the mains'l, and I folded it up and twisteda rope round it. Yonder it is, amidships. "

"Hi! You! Come along here, " came in the beachcomber's harsh voice, andCarey had to hurry to him. "Come and help with these, " and he pointedto the bucket of glistening pearls. "Get me something to put them in. "

Carey thought for a moment, and then went below, to return with thefirst things he thought suitable, and Mallam nodded his satisfaction. 

"They'll do, " he said. "'Bout dry now. Your back's easier than mine. Pour 'em in. No smugging--"

The pearls were carefully emptied into a couple of cigar boxes, andplaced under lock and key in a small closet in the captain's cabin, ofwhich Mallam now took possession, while that evening his followers, whoquite scorned the forecastle below deck, camped above it, close up tothe bulwarks, starboard or port, according to which way the wind blew, these seeming to remind them of their humpies or wind-screens, whichsome of the most savage used instead of huts. 

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. 

Carey was not long in communicating to the doctor all he had heard fromBostock, and his words revived his companion wonderfully. 

"Capital!" he said. "The fact of our being unarmed and this scoundrelkeeping all the weapons out of our reach half maddened me. "

"Yes, wasn't it horrid?" said Carey. "I felt better directly, and, doyou know, I don't think we have half so much to fear now from theblacks. I don't feel a bit afraid of them. I can make them do just asI like; so can Bob. "

"Perhaps so, and if we were alone we could make them our obedientservants. They look up to the whites as superior beings, but they arenot to be trusted, my boy. This Mallam has had them under his thumb foryears, and as you must have seen, a few sharp orders from him bring outtheir savage instincts, their faces change, their eyes look full offerocity, and if their white chief wished it they would kill us allwithout compunction. "

"And cook and eat us afterwards without salt?" said the boy, merrily. 

"You laugh, " replied the doctor, "but it is a horrible fact, my boy; andif we knew all that has taken place in connection with this man's ruleover them, we should have some blood-curdling things to dwell upon. "

"I don't feel afraid, " said Carey, coolly. "Of course, I should if itcame to such a state of affairs as you hint at. But if it came to theworst, I should jump overboard and try to swim ashore. "

"To be taken by a shark or a crocodile?"

"Well, that would be a more natural way of coming to one's end, sir. But, pooh! we're not going to be beaten, doctor. We must get Mr DanMallam--Old King Cole, Bob calls him--shut up below somewhere and out ofsight of the blacks. They'd obey us then, and we should be all right. Why, we're not going to be afraid of one man. "

"One man?" said the doctor. 

"Yes, one man. He's only one man when he's alone. I felt yesterdaythat we had twenty-one enemies. Now I feel that we've only one. Bobsays we must wait. "

"Yes, it is good advice, " replied the doctor, "and we will wait. Carey, my lad, we must bend to circumstances till our chance comes. There, Ihave been behaving in a poor, cowardly way. "

"Oh, nonsense, sir!"

"I have, Carey, and there is no disguising it; but I am going to pluckup now. Let the scoundrel go on thinking we are submitting and are asmuch his servant as the blacks are. "

"Till the right time comes, sir, and he wakes up to the fact that he'sour prisoner. I say, if a ship came in sight and saw us we could handhim over and he'd be taken right off and treated as a criminal. "

"Exactly. It seemed very galling to see him seize the pearls. "

"Yes, " said Carey, "but let him think they're his, and the ship, and allbelow. We know better. "

This was a trifling bit of conversation, but from that hour hope grewstronger in the breasts of the three oddly made prisoners and slaves ofsuch a king. Their semi-captivity seemed more bearable, and it showedin their looks and actions, the beachcomber noting it and showing a grimkind of satisfaction. 

"That's right, " he said. "Glad to see you are all settling down andmaking the best of it. It's no use to go kicking against stone walls orrocks. Be good boys, and I won't be very hard on you. You'll eat anddrink your food better, and instead o' grizzling you'll enjoy yourselvesand get nice and fat. My pack, too, will like you all the better. Idon't think I shall let 'em have that ugly chap Bostock, though; hecooks too well. "

But Carey took matters, according to the doctor's ideas, too easily--toofreely. He did not shrink from speaking out and taking liberties withhis position. It was as if he had forgotten that he was a prisoner, andhe pretty well did as he liked. 

"Here, what are you after, youngster? Where are you going?"

"Along with the pack to get cocoanuts, " said Carey, coolly. 

"I never told you, " growled the old fellow, fiercely. 

"No, but I want to see them get the nuts down, " said Carey, nonchalantly, and he went. 

It was the same when a party of the blacks went fishing, which wasnearly every day, so that there was always an ample supply, and the boyreturned flushed and brown, full of the adventures he had had. 

Black Jack now took to heading the fishing expeditions, and alwayslooked after Carey at starting time, grinning and making signssuggestive of hauling up the fish and hitting them over the heads with anulla-nulla, while the crew of the outrigger canoe always greeted theboy with a grin of satisfaction. 

"They are all awfully civil to me now, " said Carey to Bostock, "but Ithink it's a good deal due to the ticky-ticky. I say, Bob, how longwill the molasses last?"

"Oh, some time yet, sir. "

"But when the last jar's eaten?"

"Then you must try the pickles, sir. And when that's done, as it usedto say on a big picture on the walls in London, `If you like thepickles, try the sauce. ' There's no end o' bottles o' sauce. "

"Are there? Are you sure?"

"Yes, sir. There's a big consignment, as they call it, sent from Londonto Brisbane. One part o' the hold's chock full o' cases. Why, there'sa lot o' sugar things too. Oh, we shall find enough to keep thembeggars going for a long time yet. "

Meantime the great tubs had all been emptied with more or lesssatisfactory results, and re-filling began with the accompanyingstacking of the shells. The pearls were stowed away in cigar boxes, which were emptied for the purpose, the beachcomber now taking tosmoking some of those turned out, and giving an abundance to Carey, whotook them eagerly, always carrying several in his pocket. 

"Surely you are not going to smoke those, my boy?" said the doctor, wholooked quite aghast. "Wait a few years before you try anything of thatkind. "

"Why?" said the boy, with an arch look. "Because if you begin now youwill most likely be laying up a store of trouble for the future in theshape of a disordered digestion, which may hang about you all yourlife. "

"I'm not going to smoke them, " said Carey, laughing. "Look here, I rolleach one up tight in a bit of paper, and then cut it with a sharp knifeinto six, ready to give the black fellows if they behave themselves. They'll do anything for me for a bit of tobacco. "

"But don't they ever try to take it away from you?"

"Not now. They tried snatching once or twice, but I gave the one whodid a good sharp crack, and they left it off, for I'm always fair tothem. "

"A dangerous game to play. "

"Oh, no. The others always laugh at the one who's hit. They don't seemto mind taking a crack from me. "

Those fishing trips were an intense pleasure to Carey, for there was somuch that was novel. Now fish with scales as brilliant as the feathersof humming-birds would be caught; now the blacks would be warning theircompanions to beware of the black and yellow or yellow snakes. 

"Mumkull--kill a fellow, " Black Jack said, and to emphasise his meaninghe put out a hand in the water towards one of the basking serpents, snatched it back as if bitten, and went through a regular pantomimeindicative of his sufferings. First he drew up one leg, then the other, threw himself on his back in the bottom of the canoe, kicked out, threwhis arms in the air, straightened himself out, rolled over, and then, with a wonderful display of strength, curved his spine and sprang overback again, repeating the performance, which was wonderfully like theflopping of a freshly caught roach in a punt, even to the beating of thetail, which was here represented by the man's legs. By degrees thisgrew more slow; then there was a flap at intervals, finishing with oneheavy rap, and he lay quite still as if dead. 

"Dat a way, " he cried, raising his head and grinning hugely. "Mumkull--kill a fellow. "

But Carey's greatest treats were upon the hunting expeditions made bythe beachcomber's blacks ashore to obtain fresh meat in the way of adelicacy or two for their chief and something substantial forthemselves. 

One day Carey was gazing rather disconsolately at the shore andwondering when the time would come for him and his companions to be freeagain, when Black Jack bounded to his side, making the boy start round, to find the man in a menacing attitude, his teeth bare, eyes wide opendisplaying scarcely anything but the whites, for he was squinting sohorribly that his pupils had disappeared behind his thick nose, whilethe club he held was quivering as if he were about to strike. Thesuddenness of the approach startled Carey for the moment, and he leapedback, but the reaction came as quickly, and with doubled fist he rushedat the black; but the latter was too quick, leaping aside, and Carey'ssecond attack, which took the form of a flying kick, was alsounsuccessful. 

Black Jack's face was now covered with a series of good-temperedwrinkles. 

"Come 'long, " he cried. "Kedge bird--wallaby. Be ticky-ticky, up atree. "

"Be ticky-ticky?" said the boy, wonderingly. 

"Ess. Come 'long; be ticky-ticky. Buzz-zz-uzz, " he went, with awonderfully good imitation of the whirr of an insect's wings, while hemade his hand describe the dartings to and fro. 

"Big fly so, " he cried, and drawing his boomerang from the hair girdle, he took a few steps, whirled it a moment or two, and then hurled ittowards the shore. "Buzz--hum!" he cried, and then he stood grinningwith delight at the boy's admiration of the gyrations made by thecurious implement. 

At the first throw it seemed to Carey that it would drop as soon as theforce was exhausted into the sea, where the hard wood must cause it tosink. But nothing of the kind; it went skimming over the water likesome gigantic insect, and at last made a graceful curve, rose up on highquivering and fluttering, and came back till it was over the deck, andthen came twirling down. 

"Big tree, ticky-ticky, fly dat how. "

"Oh, I see; fly ticky-ticky, " cried Carey. "Honey?"

"Good ticky-ticky, " said the black, licking his fingers and smacking hislips. "Come 'long. "

"Yes, I'll come, " cried the boy, and the next minute he was over theside and in the boat, where half-a-dozen more of the blacks were waitingand received him with a frantic shout of delight, flourishing theirpaddles, which they plunged into the smooth water of the lagoon as soonas Black Jack had dropped to his place; and away they went, with thelatter standing up beside Carey. 

As they were passing round the bows, Bostock's head suddenly appearedover the side, and at a sign from the boy the blacks ceased rowing. 

"Where away, lad?" said the old sailor. 

"Ashore, hunting wallabies or something. "

"I say, young gentleman, is it safe to go alone with those chaps?"

"Oh, yes; there's nothing to mind. Haven't I been fishing with 'em lotsof times?"

"Yes, but that was on the water, my lad, " said Bostock, shaking hishead. 

"Bob--Bob, come along; kedge wallaby--snakum--ticky-ticky. "

"Who's to do the cooking if I do?" growled Bostock. 

"Cookie, come kedge ticky-ticky. "

"No. I say, my lad, keep your weather eye open. "

"Both of them, Bob. I'll take care. "

The paddles were plunged in again, and the boat glided onward. 

"I don't half like it, " muttered Bostock. "That there boy's toowentersome. S'pose they got hungry--they most always are--and took itinto their heads to make a fire. Ugh! They aren't to be trusted, but Ib'leeve they all like him and would be precious sorry when they got backand Old King Cole asked where he was. There'd be a row and a bit o'shooting, I dessay, for it's amazing, that it is, amazing, the way theold vagabone has took to our lad. But I don't like his going off with'em, and with nothing better than a bit of a toothpick of a knife. Wouldn't be long before he got hold of a club, though, I know. "

Bostock went back to his galley shaking his head, and at the same timeCarey was mentally shaking his own. 

"An old stupid, " he said. "I wish he hadn't said that. Just as if itwas likely that Black Jack or either of the others would hurt me withoutOld King Cole was there to say `Css!' to them and hound them on. Wouldn't hurt me, would you, Black Jack?" he said aloud. 

"Hey? Wood hurt um?" cried the man, and he pulled the boy on one side, dropped on his knees, and began to feel about the bottom of the canoewith his hand. "No hurt. "

"No; all right now, " said Carey, smiling. "Here, Jackum, I want tolearn to throw the boomerang. Give me hold. "

The boy made a snatch at the crescent-moon-like weapon, and got hold;but the black seized it too, shouting, "No, no, no!" and his companionsbegan to shout what sounded like a protest. 

"No, no throw. Go bottom. "

"I should make it come back. "

The black grinned knowingly. 

"Jackum show soon. Jackum fro. "

He sent the strange weapon flying on before them, and cleverly caught itas it returned; but then he stuck it in his girdle again, shaking hishead. 

"Go bottom, " he said. 

Carey was disappointed, but his attention was taken up directly bysomething more exciting, for as the canoe glided along, with theoutrigger literally skipping over the water, the boy suddenly becameconscious of what seemed for the moment like another canoe of nearly thesame size, sunk beneath the surface and gliding along at the same speed. 

For the moment he thought it must be the canoe's shadow somehow castbeside them, but the next moment he grasped the fact that it was a greatfish, probably a shark, which had come in through the opening with thelast high tide, and was now on the prowl. 

There was no doubt about it, for the blacks had seen it, and theylaughed as they saw their passenger shrink to the other side and leanover towards the outrigger. 

The next moment Jackum drew his attention with a touch, and began makinghideous grimaces at the creature, while the others began to shout andwere apparently calling it every opprobrious name that their limitedvocabulary supplied. 

But the monster, which must have been some fourteen feet long, only rosea little so that his black triangular fin appeared above the surface. 

Jackum grinned, stooped, and picked up one of a bundle of spears whichlay along at the side, and handed it to the boy, signing to him to standup in the boat. 

It was not much of a weapon, being only a straight bamboo sapling withan ill-made point hardened in the fire. 

"Gib big poke, " cried the black. 

"If I don't they'll think I'm afraid, " thought Carey; so he seized thespear, feeling not the slightest inclination for his task, and drove thepoint down on the shark's back. 

It was an unlucky stroke, for, instead of penetrating as intended, itglided over the slimy skin, while, overbalancing himself in consequenceof meeting with no resistance, Carey to his horror found himselffollowing his stroke, and he would have plunged overboard had not amuscular black arm darted like a great snake about his waist and pluckedhim back. For a moment or two the boy gasped, but he recovered himselfdirectly. 

"Shake hands, Jackum. Thankye. "

The black grinned, and took the extended hand for a few seconds. 

"Let's try again, " said Carey; but the shark had sunk down out of sight. 

"Ticklum, " said the black, grinning. "Come soon. "

Carey was disappointed, for he wanted to redeem his character, though itwas not an easy task to try and emulate the blacks with their ownweapons. But Jackum was right; it was not long before the great fishre-appeared, now on the other side of the canoe, rising slowly till itsfin was above water, its intention being apparently to pick one of thepaddlers out for a meal. 

His appearance there, however, was not approved of, the blacks by theiractions showing that they considered it highly probable that theirvisitor would get entangled with the bamboos of the outrigger andcapsize the boat. 

Jackum took the lead by snatching the spear from Carey, evidentlyconsidering that the position required skilled instead of amateurmanipulation; and, as his fellows turned their paddles into choppers andstruck heavily at the shark's back, Jackum drove his spear down with allhis might. 

It went home in spite of its clumsy make and miserable point, for in amoment it was twitched out of the strong hands that held it, the watercame flying in a shower over Carey, consequent upon a tremendous blowdelivered by the fish's tail; then there was a violent eddy at theboat's side, a great shovel-shaped head rose, and the monster shot outof the water, rising several feet and falling with a crash across themain boom of the outrigger, taking it down lower and lower, while Careyclung to the other side of the boat. The water came creeping in overthe lower side, and they would, he felt, be taken down and lie at themercy of the enemy the blacks had tried to destroy. 

In rushed the water faster and faster, and Carey looked towards theshore to see how far it was to swim, when all at once the weight glidedoff the great bamboo, which rose quickly, the boat was level again, buthalf full of water, and the blacks chattered and grinned with delight, as they began shovelling the water out on both sides with their paddles. 

Jackum used his hands, but stopped short directly after to point. 

"Tickum, tickum. Mumkull, " he cried, and Carey made out the spear-shaftperforming some strange gyrations some twenty yards away, before it oncemore disappeared. 

As Carey owned afterwards to the doctor and Bostock, he still felt alittle white, and his heart was beating heavily. But it calmed downrapidly as he felt that the worst that was to happen to him was to feelhis legs wet until the sun had dried his trousers and boots, while theblacks chattered away, taking it as an every-day occurrence, rapidlyemptying the boat, and once more in high glee paddling hard for theshore, where the great enjoyments of the day were to begin. 

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. 

As Carey landed he glanced at the now enormous stack of pearl shells andat the tubs once more well filled with oysters, for the beachcomber hadnot let his men be idle. But the sight of the treasures of which theyhad been robbed only irritated the boy, and he turned away to forget itin encountering the grinning face of Black Jack close by. 

"Come, fro boomerang, " he said, handing the wooden scimitar-like blade, and pointing along the sands. 

"Ah, " cried the boy, eagerly, "give me hold. "

As he caught the boomerang, the other blacks started off along the sandsas if they were going to field for a ball, and Carey laughed as heprepared to throw. 

"It will begin to sail up before it gets to them, " he thought tohimself, laughingly, and he rather enjoyed the idea of the big, lithefellows running through the hot sand in vain. 

Then, imitating, as he thought, the black's action exactly, Carey sentthe weapon spinning along about a yard above the sand; but it did notbegin to rise, and before it dropped one of the men caught it cleverlyand sent it back with such accuracy that Jackum caught it in turn andhanded it to the boy. 

Carey threw again half-a-dozen times, for the curved blade to be caughtby one or the other, no matter how wildly diverse were the casts, andsent back to Jackum, who never missed a catch, standing perfectly calmand at the proper moment darting out his right or left hand, when_flip_, he had it safely and handed it back, grinning with delight. 

"White boy no fro boomerang, " he said. 

"No, " cried Carey, who was hot and irritable with the failure attendinghis exertions. "You're cheating me; this one won't go. "

"No make um go, " cried Jackum, slapping his thighs and dancing withglee. 

"No; it's a bad one; it won't fly back. "

"Yes, fly bird come back. "

"But it doesn't when I throw it. "

"No, won't come back. "

"And it won't when those black fellows throw. "

Black Jackum understood him perfectly and threw himself down on the hotsand to roll himself over in the exuberance of his delight. 

"Look here, " cried Carey, growing more irritated; "you're a cheat. Youknew that thing wouldn't go when you gave it to me. Get up, or I'llkick you. "

He made a rush to put his threat in execution, but the black rolled overand sprang up laughing. 

"White boy get wild likum big Dan. No fro boomerang. Look, see. "

"It's too bad, you're a cheat. Bad one. Bah!" cried Carey, throwingthe wooden blade down. "You've changed it. "

"Look, see, " cried the black, catching it up; and in the most effortlessway he sent it skimming along the sand right away, full fifty yardsbeyond the farthest fielder, before it began to mount high in the air, executing a peculiar series of twirls and flutterings as it came back, till the momentum died out as it dropped not half-a-dozen yards fromCarey's feet. 

"Ah!" cried the boy, excitedly, "I see how you do it now. Here, let metry. "

"Jackum fro makum come back ebry war. "

"Yes, but let me try. "

_Bang, bang_, came softened by the distance, and, looking sharply in thedirection of the stranded vessel, two faint puffs of white smoke werevisible. 

"What does that mean?" cried Carey, as he saw the fielders come runningtowards him. 

"Big Dan shoot, shoot. Say go hunt, get bird to cookie, cookie. Come, run fas'. "

He set the example and plunged at once into the great cocoanut grove, followed by Carey and his companions. 

"Big Dan no see now, " cried Jackum, and he grinned and pointed up at thenuts overhead. "Good, good?"

"Yes, " cried Carey; "let's have some. "

The black said something to his companions, two of whom took off theirplaited hair girdles, joined them together, and then the band was passedround a likely tree, knotted round one of the wearers' loins, and thenext minute he was apparently walking like a monkey up the tree, shifting the band dexterously and going on and on till he reached thecrown of leaves and the fruit, which he began screwing off and pitchingdown into the sand, where they were caught up, the pointed end of aclub-handle inserted, and the great husk wrenched off. Then a few chopswith a stone axe made a hole in the not yet hardened shell, and a nutwith its delicious contents of sweet, sub-acid milk and pulp was handedto the boy, the giver grinning with satisfaction as he saw how it wasenjoyed. 

The blacks were soon similarly occupied, each finishing a nut, and thenJackum led the way inland. 

"Are you going to the river?" asked Carey. 

"No, walk, kedge fis', " said Jackum, shaking his head. "Bully-woollydar. "

"Bully-woolly?" said Carey, wonderingly. 

Jackum threw himself on the ground, with his legs stiffened out behind, and his hands close to his sides. Then with wonderful accuracy he wentthrough the movements of a crocodile creeping over the sand, and thenmade a snap at the boy's leg with his teeth, making believe to havecaught him, and to be dragging his imaginary prey down to the water, ending by wagging his legs from side to side like a tail. 

"I see, " cried Carey. "Crocodiles. Yes, I know. "

"Big, big. Mumkull black fellow, white boy. Come 'long. "

Jackum started off, followed by Carey and the rest in single file, theirleader with his head down and eyes reading the ground from right to leftas if in search of something lost. He made straight for the forest, butselected the more open parts where the undergrowth was scarce, so as toget quickly over the ground, stopping suddenly by a great decayed tree, about which his companions set to work with the sharp ends of theirclub-handles, and in a very short time they had dug out of the decayedwood some three double handfuls of thick white grubs as big as a man'sfingers, and these were triumphantly transferred to the grass bag oneman had hanging to his girdle. 

Starting once more, Jackum suddenly caught sight of traces on the groundwhich made him begin to proceed cautiously, his companions closing up, club, spear, or boomerang in hand, and then all at once there was a rushand a spring, then another, and a couple of little animals bounded away, kangaroo fashion, in a series of leaps through the open, park-likeforest, till as they were crossing a widish patch Carey saw the use ofthe boomerang, one of which weapons skimmed after the retreatinganimals, struck it, and knocked it over, to lie kicking, till one of themen ran swiftly up and put it out of its misery with one blow of hisclub. 

The other was missed, the boomerang hurled just going over its back andreturning to the thrower after the fashion of a disappointed dog, whilethe little animal took refuge in a tree, leaping from bough to boughtill brought down by one of a little shower of melon-headed clubs. 

Jackum held up the two trophies with a grin of delight, tied their legstogether, and hung them on a stump. 

"Back, come fetchum, " he said, nodding. 

The hunt continued till a couple of brush turkeys sprang up and began torun and flutter among the bushes, but only to be brought down by theunerring boomerangs; and these were also hung against a tree ready forpicking up as the hunting party returned. 

The traces on a sandy patch, showing that a snake had crossed and leftits zigzag groove, were next spied, and a little tracking showed themaker of the marks coiled up on an ant-heap basking in the sun. 

The reptile was on the alert, though, and raised its spade-shaped headhigh above its coils, displaying a pair of tiny diamond-bright eyes fora few moments, before a blow from the end of a spear dashed it down, broken and quivering. 

"Mumkull--bite a fellow, " said Jackum. "Makum swellum. Brrr!"

Carey grasped the fact that the snake was of a poisonous tendency, andit was left writhing on the ant-heap, with the little creatures swarmingin an army out of their holes to commence the task of picking its bonesinto skeleton whiteness. 

A couple more large turkey-like birds were brought down and hung up inthe shady forest they were now passing, the spreading branches of thehuge trees being most grateful interposed between Carey's head and thesun. Here the blacks proceeded with the greatest care, starting no lessthan three snakes, which were allowed to scuffle off. At last one ofthe blacks uttered a faint cry, and he took the lead, following thetrail of something quickly, till he stopped short beneath a hugefig-tree whose boughs spread far and wide. 

The black here turned to Carey and pointed upward with his spear towhere, half hidden by the dense foliage, a clump of knots and folds uponsome interlacing horizontal boughs revealed the presence of a carpetsnake, whose soft warm brown and chocolate markings of various shadeswere strikingly beautiful. 

"Ugh! the monster!" exclaimed Carey, shrinking back. "Are you going tokill it?"

"Mumkull, eatum. Good, good, " cried Jackum, and the noise made belowroused the sleeping serpent, whose head rose up, showing the mark wherethe mouth opened, and Carey could see the glistening forked tonguedarting in and out through the orifice at the apices of the jaws. Andnow the creature seemed all in motion, fold gliding over fold, and onegreat loop hanging down from the bough some fifteen feet above theirheads. 

"I mustn't run off, " thought Carey; "but it looks a dangerous brute. "

He stood fast then, and the attack began, the blacks hurling their clubsup at the reptile with such accuracy and force that in less than aminute the creature had been struck in several places, and was strikingout with its jaws and lashing its tail furiously. 

Another blow from a whizzing boomerang made the creature cease itsattempts to get to a safer part of the tree and writhe so violently in ahorrible knot of convolutions that it lost its hold upon the branch andcame down through the interlacing boughs with a rush and a thud upon theground. 

Here it seemed to see its aggressors for the first time, and, gatheringitself up, its head rose with the jaws distended, and it struck at thenearest black. 

But his enemy was beforehand. Holding his spear with both hands he usedit as a British yeoman of old handled a quarter-staff, and a whistlingblow caught the reptile a couple of feet below the head, which droppedinert, the vertebrae being broken, and a series of blows from otherspears, one aimed at the tail, finished the business. 

The danger was over, and the serpent began to untwine itself, till itlay out, a long heaving mass of muscles, completely disabled and dyingafter the slow fashion of its kind. 

"Why, it must be sixteen or eighteen feet long, " thought Carey, and thenhe stood looking on while the delighted blacks, who looked upon theirprize as a delicacy that would be exclusively their own, cut a fewcanes, twined them into a loose rope, made a noose round the writhingcreature's neck, and after one of the party had passed this rope over aconvenient bough the reptile was hauled up so that the tail was clear ofthe ground and safe from the attacks of marauding ants. 

Then the hunt was continued. Several splendid birds were knocked over, and they were now high up in the river valley, where the great monitorlizards haunted the sun-baked volcanic stones. 

"Knock one of those down, Jackum, " said Carey, who was anxious to seehow the blacks would deal with the tail-lashing creatures. 

"Plenty, plenty, " said the black, grinning; but he obeyed directlyafter, sending his boomerang whizzing at one, which suddenly bounded onto a rock and turned defiantly with open jaws upon those who hadinterrupted his noon-tide sleep. 

Carey had ocular proof that the nude blacks were cautious enough to keeptheir skins clear of the fearful lash formed by the steel-wire-liketails. For the boomerang struck the distended jaws with a sharp crack, and the next moment the reptile was down, with its silvery-grey scalesflashing in the sun like oxidised silver, as it lashed its tail aboutlike a coil-whip. It was not round Jackum's legs, however, when he ranup to recover his boomerang, but round and round the spear-shaft whichhe held ready for the purpose. 

A few minutes later the great lizard was dead. "Plenty cookie now, "said Jackum, and they began to return, picking up their trophies as theywent back exactly over their trail. 

"They'll only cut a piece out of the carpet snake, " thought Carey. "It's too big to take back. "

But he was mistaken. That serpent was too fat and juicy, and promisedtoo many pleasant cookings, to be left behind, and it was soon lowereddown, to be dragged after the party by two of the blacks, who harnessedthemselves to the canes about the reptile's neck, the smooth hard scalesmaking the elongated body glide easily enough over the grass and sandyearth. 

"But I'm not going to ride in the canoe with that horrid beast, "muttered Carey. "It's alive and moving still. "

But he did, for, when all their game had been successively picked up andthey reached the edge of the lagoon, the great serpent was dragged inand fitted itself in the bottom of the canoe, and the rest was thrownfore and aft. Carey set his teeth, for he dared not let the blacks seehim shrink, and stepped calmly in, to sit down with his knees to hischin and the thickest part of the serpent passing round behind hisheels, the head and tail lying forward, with the paddlers sitting insidethe loop it formed. 

They had cargo enough to make the slight vessel seem heavily-laden, butit was sent rapidly across the lagoon, the blacks eager and triumphantto display their successful efforts to their companions, who were allperched up on the bulwarks on either side of the gangway, face outward, waiting to see the portion that would come to their share. 

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. 

The proximity of the evil-smelling serpent to Carey's legs doubtless hadsomething to do with the speed of his movements in quitting the canoeand climbing the side; and on reaching the gangway he looked round invain for the doctor and Bostock, for they were not visible, neither wasMallam on the deck. 

"Where's the doctor?" he said to one of the blacks, but the man merelystared at him blankly. "Cookie?" cried Carey, and the man grinned andpointed towards the galley. 

But Carey did not go in that direction, turning aft towards the saloonentrance, where on reaching the top of the brass-bound stairs he stoppedin alarm, for a hoarse groan ascended to his ears. 

A shiver of dread ran through the lad, for it was evident that somethingterrible had happened during his absence, and for a few moments he stoodlistening. 

Then, mastering the coward dread, he took a few steps down. 

"What's the matter?" he cried, excitedly, but there was only anothergroan, and he leaped down the remaining stairs to the saloon door, butonly to find that it was shut and fastened, and that the startlingsounds had not come from there, but from the lower cabin. 

The boy did not stop to question, but began to descend. He had nottaken two steps, however, before there was the sharp report of a pistol, and a bullet whistled by his ear. Then there was another shot, whichwas better aimed, striking him in the chest, and he fell back againstthe bulkhead, to slide down in a half-sitting, half-lying position uponthe stairs, struggling to get his breath, while a deathly feeling ofsickness made his head swim and everything seemed to be turning black. 

It was some minutes before he came sufficiently to himself to realisethat he was lying back there upon the stairs, unable to move, and agreater time elapsed before he fully recalled the cause and clearly knewthat he had been shot at, the second shot having caused the dull, heavypain in his breast, with the accompanying oppression. 

His first movement was to clap his hand to his chest, the act dislodginga bullet, which flew off and went rattling loudly down the brass-boundstairs. 

The next moment another shot was fired, and struck the wood-work abovehis head, while before a puff of evil-smelling smoke had risen far therewas another shot, with the shivering of plate glass, which fell janglingdown. 

There was a feeling as if a tiny hand were passing among the roots ofCarey's hair and he tried to crouch lower, but it was impossible. Feeling though, that his life--if he were not already fatally injured--depended upon his getting beyond reach of the person firing, he gavehimself intense pain by trying to ascend the stairs. But at the firstmovement he could not restrain a sharp cry, and immediately therefollowed two more shots, which crashed into the wood-work overhead. 

Not daring to stir now, Carey clapped his hand once more to his breast, where the pain was most acute, shuddering meanwhile at the thought thathis breast must be wet with blood. 

But no; his flannel felt dry enough, and plucking up courage as herecalled the fact that the first two shots stung by his head and breast, while the last four had flown high, he felt pretty sure that by crawlingto the top he might reach there in safety. Besides, a revolvercontained only six shots, and that number had been fired. 

Acting upon this, he turned quickly over upon his breast, and in spiteof the sickening pain he felt, began to crawl up; but his hope that thelast shot had been fired was damped on the instant, for the firing oncemore began, and he felt certain that his assailant must be Dan Mallam, since he always carried two revolvers. 

Carey was desperate now, and he kept on breathlessly, hearing three moreshots fired, nine in all, before he sank down on the landing now by thesaloon door, to faint dead away. 

How long he lay he could not tell, but it could not have been any greatspace of time before in a sickened drowsy way he found himself listeningto the distant chattering of the blacks on deck. 

Carey's hand went to his breast again, where the heavy dull paincontinued; but there was no trace of blood, and, satisfied on thispoint, he crouched there listening to a dull, moaning sound coming fromthe bottom of the stairs. 

What did it all mean, and where was Doctor Kingsmead? He knew thatBostock was forward in the galley, for the black had pointed there whenhe asked, and the thing to do now was to go and find him to hear theworst. 

Just then, like a flash, came the recollection of the two reports he hadheard that morning when he was on the sands, and he began to wonderwhether that was in any way connected with what had happened. 

And now he tried to rise and get up on deck, but at the first movementthe sick feeling came back, and he leaned back to let it pass off. 

As he sat there, there was a burst of laughing from the blacks--a soundso full of careless, boyish merriment that it cheered him with thethought that perhaps, after all, nothing very serious was the matter. 

He made another effort, and stood up to take a step or two, with thesick feeling passing off as he once more listened to the laughter of theblacks. 

And now a fresh thought came to him; he must not let the blacks see thathe was suffering, or they might look down upon him with contempt, sothat he would perhaps lose the high position he had won in theirestimation. 

This seemed to give him strength, and, setting his teeth hard he put onan air of stoical indifference as he stepped out on deck, feeling thathe was growing firmer each moment. 

There was a strange sight before him as he walked aft, for the blackswere gathered round four of their party, who had evidently begun in themiddle and worked away from thence towards head and tail, in pairs, skinning the great snake, to the great defilement of the clean deck. 

Black Jackum made way for the boy to see as he came up, grinning as washis wont. 

"Good eatum, " he said, eagerly. "Cookum, good. "

"Yes, " said Carey, quietly. "Where is Cookie?"

"Cookie?" repeated the black, half-wonderingly, and he turned to one ofthe party who had stopped on board. 

"Baal. Cookie he. "

The man made some reply, and ran towards the forecastle to squat uponthe deck and thump upon the hatch with his fists, saying something withgreat rapidity of speech, the only words Carey could grasp being Dan andmumkull. 

Black Jackum turned to the boy as soon as his companion had finished. 

"Cookie, " cried Jackum, pointing down at the closed and fastened hatch. "Big Dan mumkull everybody open dat. "

"Big Dan says he'll kill everyone who opens that hatch?" cried Carey. 

"Issum, " said the black, nodding a good deal, looking sharply from Careytowards the cabin entry and back. 

"Mumkull ebberbody. Shoot, bang. "

"Let him shoot me then if he dares, " cried Carey, in a fit ofdesperation, and the two blacks looked at him with horror and admirationas the boy bent down over the hatch, pulled out an iron bolt thrustthrough the staple, and threw open the heavy lid of wood; but all wasstill below. 

"Bob! Are you there?" cried Carey, for there was a chilling silencebelow. 

"Ay, ay!" came in half-smothered tones, and this was followed by thesound of someone turning out of a bunk. The next minute Bostock'sbloodstained face appeared, with a tremendous swelling on the brow, theresult evidently of a blow given with marlin-spike or club. 

"Bob!" cried Carey, wildly, as he caught the old sailor's hand. 

"Master Carey!" cried the injured man, stumbling out as if giddy. "Thisis a good sight, dear boy. "

"Which of the blacks struck you that cowardly blow?"

"Nay, nay, it warn't one of the black fellows, my lad, but Old King Colehimself. "

"But how? why--what for?"

"Don't you puzzle a chap with too many questions at once, my lad, for myhead's a bit swimming. "

"Oh, Bob, my poor fellow! Here, Jackum, a bucket of water to bathe hishead. "

"Bucketum waterum? Iss!" cried the black, darting off, and Bostockseated himself on an upturned barrel. 

"Let's see, " he said; "how was it? I forgot, sir. "

"Never mind that, then. Where's the doctor?"

"The doctor, sir?" faltered the old fellow, to Carey's agony, "I dunno. Ah, I 'member now. Comes to me in the galley, he does. "

"The doctor?"

"No, sir; Old King Cole. `Come here, ' he says, `and get me somethingout o' the forecastle. ' I goes with him, gets to the hatch, and hesays, `Fetch me up that noo axe as is down there. ' `Right, sir, ' Isays, and I'd got down three steps when I sees his shadder across me asif he was lifting something, and I turns sharply to see a club in hishand just lifted up. I shies and dodges, but I was too late; down itcomes dump on my forrid, and I dropped down into the forecastle. "

"Bob!" cried Carey. 

"That's true enough, sir, and then I seemed to go to sleep with everyidee knocked out o' me. I just recklect thinking I should be better ina bunk, and I lay there dreaming like till you calls me, and that wokeme up. What's o'clock, sir?"

"Time we bestirred ourselves, Bob, to find the doctor. Bob, he musthave served poor Doctor Kingsmead the same. "

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. 

Poor Bob Bostock's head had seemed as much swollen mentally as it hadbeen externally, but these words on the part of Carey gave a fillip tohis power of thinking, and he stared at the lad with his mouth open and, instead of being stupefied and weak, he grew rapidly stronger. 

"My eyes and limbs, Master Carey!" he gasped; "you don't mean to go andsay such a thing as that, do you?"

"I do, Bob, but look here, " he went on, keeping to a whisper; "try andbe cool and take it all as a matter of course. Everything may dependupon our taking our troubles calmly. We must not let the black fellowsthink we are upset over it. "

"I see, sir. Yes, that's right. You mean if we show the white featherthese fellows'll come and pluck us. "

"Something of the kind, Bob. There, go on bathing your head and keepfriendly with Black Jack. "

"Right, sir. I see. Chuck dust in their eyes?"

"Exactly. "

"Here goes, then, sir, and I'll begin with water and make out that Ithink it all a big lark. "

The old sailor knelt down before the bucket and began to bathe hisforehead and the tremendous swelling, while Black Jackum looked onanxiously. The next minute Bostock raised his head, saw that the secondblack was looking at him solemnly, and he made a hideous grimace athim--an extremely hideous grimace, for his swollen and disfiguredforehead helped to make it so. 

The black stared, with the opalescent whites of his eyes forming ringsaround his irides. Then, grasping the fact that it was done as a joke, he burst into a loud guffaw, slapped his thighs and cried, "Bunyip--bunyip!" bounding away the next moment, for Bostock sent a handful ofwater splashing all over his face. 

Black Jackum roared at this, and Bostock made a feint of splashing him, to the other blacks' great delight. 

Jackum dodged and ducked his head, Bostock keeping up the threateningtill Jackum protested. 

"No--no--no, " he cried. "Let feel um, " and he stretched out his hands. 

"All right, " cried Bostock, ceasing his watery threats; "feel then. "

"Feel cookie, " said Jackum, solemnly. "Cookie brokum?"

The black's fingers were applied with delicate touch to the old sailor'shead. 

"Gently, old soot-box, " said Bostock, quietly submitting; "it feels asif it was red-hot. "

"No brokum, " said Jackum, turning sharply to Carey and catching at theboy's wrist. "Feelum. "

Carey felt the injured head gently, and was not a bit the wiser, savethat he could not feel the movement of fractured bones, so he noddedback to Jackum and repeated the black's words. 

"No brokum, " he said, and the black laughed, caught hold of Bostock'sloose neckerchief, slipped it off, and tied it round the injured place, laughing and nodding as he turned the old sailor round and pointed outthe bandage to Carey. "Big Dan hit um, " he said. 

"That's right, sonny, " cried Bostock, laughing. "I say. Big Dan, drinkum, drinkum, " and he made a pantomimic gesture with his hand as iftossing off a dram. 

Black Jackum gave a sharp glance aft to make sure that his white chiefwas not on deck, and then, grinning with delight, he imitated Bostock'saction with his doubled hand as if drinking. 

"Rum--rum, " he said, and then, with a wonderful display of the imitativefaculty, he went through a clever pantomime, turning his black face intoa grotesque copy of Mallam's, as he made believe to pour rum out of abottle, drinking again and again, smiling in an imbecile manner atfirst, and then beginning to grow fierce, while his companions squattedon the deck, nodding and enjoying the performance. 

In a few seconds Jackum's countenance changed, his eyes began to roll, his face seemed puffed out, and a brutally savage look came over it. Hegrowled like a wild beast, turned on his black companion suddenly, andkicked him over, ending by jumping on him softly, to the black fellow'sgreat delight. Then he seemed to run _amok_ among a number of imaginarypeople, pulling out his boomerang, pretending to cock it, and shootingin all directions, ending by making a furious rush at Bostock, makingbelieve to drag him to the hatchway, where he took out his club, struckone tremendous blow and clapped down the trap-door. Then he took up abottle and glass from where they did not stand on the deck, drank twoglasses and, after pretending to drain the bottle, threw it overboard, and, with his eyes half shut and a horribly brutal look, went slowly tothe side, settled himself down, and went to sleep. 

The whole performance did not take a minute, and then he was back besideCarey. 

"Big Dan, " he whispered, with his eyes twinkling with the same delightwhich infused his companion, who rolled on the deck in the excess of hismirth. 

"Yes, that's it, " said Carey, impatiently. "Big Dan. Drink. Bad. Now, Jackum, look here. "

"Look?" said the black. "What look?"

"Listen, then. Find doctor. "

"Find doctor. Where doctor?"

"Yes, " said Carey. 

Jackum turned to his companion and asked him, but it was evident thatthe man knew nothing, and Jackum stood for a moment or two thinking. 

"Doc-tor, " he said at last, making a significant gesture downward. "Sleep um, " and he shut his eyes and laid his face upon his hand. 

"No, " said Carey. 

"Jackum go see. "

He started to run aft, and Carey and the other two followed, the blackfellows, who were busy picking and cleaning the game they had broughtback, paying no heed. 

As they reached the cabin entry Carey anxiously caught Jackum's arm. 

"Mind, " he whispered, pointing downward. "Big Dan. Shoot, shoot!"

The black nodded, and dropped upon his face, to crawl up and cautiouslythrust his head inside and listen, drawing it back again directly, shutting his eyes, puffing out his face and uttering a low deep snore. 

The next moment he was in again, crawling like a huge black slug headfirst down the stairs, till they saw only the soles of his feet, andthen they disappeared, the other looking on grinning as he squatteddown. 

"It's not snoring, Bob, " whispered Carey. "There is something terriblebelow. I think the doctor is dead, after wounding Mallam badly. "

"Oh, don't say that, my lad; but hullo! what's wrong with your chesty?You keep putting your hand there. "

"I don't think it's much, " said the boy. "Never mind now. It hurtsbadly now and then. Mallam shot at me. "

_Bang_!

There was a sharp report, a rush, and quite in a little cloud of smokeJackum bounded out on the deck, whipped his club out from where it wasstuck in his girdle behind, and made several vicious blows at nothing inthe direction of the cabin stairs, his teeth bared, and a savage look ofrage in his eyes. 

Then, clapping his left hand to his ear, which was bleeding, hewhispered:

"Big Dan shoot. "

He turned to his fellow, who examined the wounded ear, the lobe of whichwas split. Then the injury was pinched together for a few moments, alittle grass bag was produced from somewhere, and a pinch of clay-dustapplied to the wound. 

This done, Jackum grinned again. 

"Big Dan there, " he whispered. 

"But the doctor?" whispered Carey, excitedly. 

"Jackum find, " was the confident reply, and with a quick nod he boundedto one of the open saloon skylights, lay down, and edged himself throughthe slit, let his body go down, hung by his hands a moment or two, andlet go, dropping into the saloon without a sound. 

Carey and Bostock stood listening for some minutes, but there was nosign made, and though the boy lay down on the deck with his ear close tothe opening he could hear nothing; and at last he rose and made for thecabin entrance, to kneel down and listen there to the low, deep groansuttered from time to time. 

It was horrible, and in spite of the pain he was in Carey was ready torisk everything and rush down to put an end to his suspense. 

Just when this was unendurable he felt a light touch upon his shoulder, and turned to find the second black pointing upward to the quarter-deck. 

Carey went up at once, and found that Jackum was just squeezing himselfedgewise beneath the hinged opening of the saloon skylight. 

He grinned with satisfaction. 

"Find doc-tor, " he said, fumbling in his girdle. "Big Dan shoot--shoot. "

"Not killed--mumkull?" whispered Carey, in a voice full of the anguishhe felt. 

"No, no, no. Baal mumkull. Big Dan shoot. Doctor broke. "

"Where, his head?" said the boy, with a sigh of relief, as he touchedhis own. 

"Baal head. Leggum, " said the black, touching his thigh; and then fromout of one tightly clasped hand he took a roughly doubled-up piece ofpaper, holding it out to the boy with a peculiar look of awe in hiscountenance. 

"Ah!" cried Carey, joyfully, as he snatched at the paper, a leafevidently torn out of a little pocket-book. "Here, Bob, " he said, withhis voice trembling, as he opened out the scrap to display a few wordshastily pencilled in straggling characters, and he read:

"Thank Heaven you are alive. That ruffian fired at me, and the shotdivided an artery. I am too weak to stir. Take care. He is somehowinjured and lying at the bottom of the cabin stairs groaning. I amdreadfully weak and faint, but I managed to stop the bleeding. "

"Three cheers for that, " said Bostock, softly. "This is bad noos, Master Carey, but there's a deal o' good in it, though; now, aren'tthere?"

"Good?" cried Carey, with a look of horror. 

"Yes, sir, good, " said the old sailor, stolidly. "You see, he says he'sstopped the bleeding. "

"Yes, yes, that is good, certainly, " said Carey, with his hand pressedto his aching breast. 

"Then there's something better, sir; he says Old King Cole's somehowinjured, and lying at the bottom o' the cabin stairs groaning, and ifthat aren't a blessing in disguise I should like to know what is. "

"And we don't know how he is. "

"No, sir, we don't know how he is, but he must be pooty bad, or else hewouldn't go on shooting at everybody who goes nigh. I wish, though, he'd ha' hurt old Jackum a bit more. "

"Why?"

"Might ha' made the nigger so savage that he'd ha' gone down andfinished him off. I aren't a murd'rous sort o' man, Master Carey, buthe tried to kill me, only he didn't hit hard enough, and I get thinkingthat there old ruffian won't be perfeck till he's quite finished. Well, sir, what's to be done? You're skipper now as t'others is both wounded. I should say first thing is for you to rig yourself out with a revolverand a gun as I've got waiting for you ready, and, as it used to be whenI was aboard a man-o'-war, you just read your commission out loud to thecrew. They won't understand it, but that don't matter; we Jacks neverdid. Next you'd better make me your first lieutenant as well as cook, and then go and knock over a nigger or two just to let 'em see you meanbusiness. "

"Don't trifle, Bob, " cried Carey, angrily. 

"Nay, sir, I aren't trifling; I mean it. You've got the whip hand o'they niggers, and they 'bout worships you. Just you bounce about a bitand let 'em see what you're made of, and then give 'em your orders whatto do. "

"Yes, what would you do first?"

"Well, sir, if it was me I should send Jackum and a couple more--no, Iwouldn't send jackum, because he's not a bad sort o' fellow, and wecouldn't spare him. He'll be a splendid go-between, because you see heunderstands the language, and it'll be better to tell 'em what they'reto do than knocking it into 'em with a club. You send three of 'em downbelow, and let 'em put the old king out of his misery. "

"What! Kill him?"

"Ay, sir, he must be badly hurt and half dead. Such chaps as him aren'ta bit o' use in the world. "

Carey looked at the man with so much disgust painted in his face thatBostock shrugged his shoulders. 

"Well, p'raps that would be a bit strong, sir, but one must dosomething, and it won't do to leave him down there shooting at everyonewho goes nigh. "

"Let's get to the doctor first, " said Carey. 

"Nay, sir; I aren't going to let you go down them stairs and be shotagain, whether you're my officer or whether you aren't, " said the oldsailor, stoutly. 

"I am not going down that way. We must get axes to work and enlarge theopening through the skylight, " said Carey. 

"Ah, now you're talking sense, sir. Of course, but you'll have arevolver?"

Carey nodded, and Bostock hurried off, to return in a few minuteswithout the objects of which he had been in search. 

"Well, where are the arms?" cried Carey. 

"Aren't got 'em yet, sir. Them chaps want me to light a fire and cookthe thumping big snake they've got, and it's a horrid idee, sir. Theoven'll never be fit to use again. They made signs that if I didn'tthey'd light a fire on the deck, and one chap began rubbing hisfire-sticks to get a light. "

"I can't spare you, Bob, " cried Carey, anxiously. "What am I to do?Here, I know, " said the boy, rising to the emergency. "Here, Jackum!"

The man, who had been watching him intently, sprang to his side on theinstant, looking ready to obey the slightest order. 

"Tell your boys to take the snake over to the sands and light a firethere to roast it. They can make a feast. "

The black nodded, as if fully endorsing the plan. "Jackum go too. "

"No, stop, I want you. Send all the others. "

"Jackum want eat. "

"You shall have plenty to eat, " cried Carey, and the man grinned, spokesharply to his companions, who ran with him forward, and, as the pairwatched them and listened, they heard quite a babel of excited voicesrise, and Carey's heart sank. 

"They won't go, " he said. 

"Oh, won't they, sir, " said Bostock, with a chuckle. "You'll seedirectly. "

The old sailor was right, for directly after they were seen carrying thecarefully skinned and cleaned serpent to the side, where they lowered itinto the boat, into which they crowded till it was full, four of themperching on the outrigger. 

Then with a loud shout the heavily-laden canoe was pushed off, thepaddles began to splash, and Jackum came back. 

"All gone 'way, " he said, rather solemnly, as if disappointed at notbeing able to join the banquet. "Jackum want eat. "

"Yes, of course. Come along. Here, Bob, what can you give him to eat?"

The black's eyes sparkled, as he turned eagerly to Bostock. 

"What yer like, Sooty?" said the latter. 

"Bob gib ticky-ticky; Pick Dilly. Much cake. "

"Look ye here, " said the old sailor. "You love damper?"

"Iss. Damper. "

"Ticky-ticky?"

"Iss. Much ticky-ticky. "

"And I'll light a fire and roast something for you to eat by-and-by. "

"Jackum no like roast somefin. Cooky big bird. "

"Yes, I'll cook a big bird for you. That do? Come along then. "

A minute or two later Jackum was seated with a big damper cake and abasin of treacle between his legs, smiling all over his face wherever itwas not coated with molasses, and that was naturally about the mouth. When they saw him fully occupied Carey and Bostock turned to where thearms were hidden, and soon after each was provided with a revolver andgun loaded, and with an ample supply of cartridges. 

"Now, Bob, " cried Carey, excitedly, "the _Chusan_ is once more our own. If we fastened up the gangways we could keep all those blacks off. "

"What about Jackum?"

"He would obey me now. "

"Dessay he would, sir, but what about Old King Cole?"

Carey gazed at him with wrinkled brow and was silent for a few moments, for the question was hard to answer, and he gave it up. 

"Get an axe, " he said. 

This-was soon done, and they repaired to the saloon skylight, whereBostock leaned his gun against the erection ready for use if wanted, andbegan to use the axe. 

At the first blow there was a crash of glass, followed by a revolvershot from the bottom of the stairs, when Bostock dropped the axe andseized and cocked his gun. 

"The old un's at it, sir. Look out; maybe he's coming out. "

"Fire at him if he fires at us, " said Carey, excitedly. 

"I'm a-going to fire at him, sir, afore he does, " said the old sailor, sturdily. "See my swelled head, sir?"

Carey nodded. 

"That's right, sir. Well then, 'cordin' to the rules of the game it'smy first play this time, and yours too. "

Carey was silent, and nothing followed the shot. 

"He must be disabled, Bob?" whispered the boy. "Go on again. "

Bostock struck once more, and there was another shot below, but thistime the old sailor went on, striking again and again, beating out glassand dividing the cross pieces of wood to make an easy entrance foranyone to get down. But not a dozen strokes had been delivered beforethe black was once more at their side. 

"Hullo!" cried Bostock; "you haven't eat all that damper. "

"Jackum eat allum damper, allum ticky-ticky. Good!" cried the black, grinning. 

"Well, I couldn't ha' done it myself in the time, " said Bostock. "Here, lay hold. "

He pointed to the partially demolished light, which the black seized andwrenched off, threw it down on the deck, and then, without hesitation, glided through, and dropped softly into the saloon cabin. 

"You go next, Bob. "

"Nay, sir, oughtn't you to order me on guard to shoot down the enemy ifhe comes on deck?" Carey nodded. 

"Yes, keep watch, " he said. "I'll go down. " The way was easy enoughnow, and the next minute Carey was on the saloon table, from which heleaped to the floor, to face Jackum, who cried, eagerly:

"Doctor. Jackum know. "

The black led the way to the captain's cabin, and there was a faint cryof delight as the boy sprang forward and let his gun drop against thelocker, to grasp Doctor Kingsmead's extended hands. 

"Oh, doctor, doctor!" he cried. "At last! at last! But how thin andwhite you look. "

"Loss of blood, my lad. Ah, Jackum!"

For the black had crept close up to the berth and squatted down, gazinganxiously in the sufferer's face. 

"Doc-tor mumkull?" he said. 

"Killed? Oh, no, my man. I hope not for a long time yet. "

"Mumkull--no, " said Jackum. "Brokum?"

"Yes, broken if you like, " and he pointed to the slit-up leg of histrousers and a large bloodstained bandage, tightly bound round. 

"Who 'tick 'pear froo doctor leggum?" cried the black, springing up, with his eyes flashing and the look of war in his set teeth; and it wasas if he wanted the name of the member of his pack, as he drew his clubfrom behind, to shake it menacingly. 

"No, no. Shot-gun, " said the doctor. 

"Ho! Big Dan?" whispered the black, and he pointed downward. 

"Yes, " said the doctor, and for a few moments his voice grew a littlestronger. "Carey, lad, the cowardly ruffian must have been mad drunkthis morning, for he came to me furious and foaming and accused me ofencouraging you to set the blacks against him. I denied it, of course, and he grew more furious, using bullying and insulting language, till inmy irritation I struck him, and he went away, while I began to repent, feeling how awkward our position was. But a few minutes later I hadcome to the conclusion that the time had arrived when we must strike forfreedom, and I was looking longingly across the lagoon at where I couldsee you practising throwing the boomerang, and wishing you back. Then Iturned to go forward and speak to Bostock, who was busy in the galley, when I saw that ruffian standing just outside the cabin entry, takingaim at me with a gun. 

"I shouted and rushed at him, but he fired twice before I could reachhim. I felt a tremendous blow on the leg, but I closed with him and wefell together, struggling down step by step to the saloon door, where Iloosed my grasp and rolled in, to lie half insensible; but I heard thedoor banged to and locked on the outside. Then a deathly feeling ofsickness came over me, and I lay wondering at the sounds I heard as ofwater splashing, as if bucket after bucket was dashed down to washsomething away. 

"That sound saved my life, Carey, " said the doctor, after a pause, "forit seemed to revive me to a sense of what was wrong, and I crawled fromthe dreadful pool in which I lay, to tear a strip from the tableclothand staunch the bleeding, before I fainted away, to be revived again byhearing a horrible crash as if someone had slipped upon the wet stairs. The door was nearly driven in, but the fall continued, and I could hearMallam cursing horribly as he tried to get up, but only to fall back andlie silent for a time. I must have fainted again, but the desire forlife was strong, and I forced myself to see to my injury. It's ahorrible wound, Carey, and bled so that I thought it would never stop;but the bone was sound, and I was surgeon enough to tie the artery, and--and--"

His voice had been growing weaker and weaker, and now it ceased, thepoor fellow lying with his eyes half-closed. 

"Doc-tor go mumkull, " whispered Jackum, but Carey made an angry gestureand, fetching water from the table, he moistened the wounded man's lips, and in a short time had the satisfaction of seeing him revive a littleand in a faint whisper ask for a drink. Carey raised his head a little, and half a glassful was swallowed with avidity. This was reviving, andthe doctor was soon able to press his young companion's hand. 

"Where's Bostock?" he said at last. 

"On deck, " said Carey, promptly; but he said nothing about the oldsailor's injury. 

"Hah!" replied the doctor; "I can get better now. But what is thematter with you, my lad? Your voice sounds strange, and you keep onehand over your breast. What is it?"

"Oh, nothing much, " said Carey, with a feeble attempt at a smile. 

"Tell me, " said the doctor, in almost a whisper; but there was a sternlook in his eyes as he said, "I know. You have been overtaxingyourself. The old trouble has broken again. "

"No, no, " cried Carey, eagerly now. "I was on the cabin stairs seekingfor you, when that old wretch fired at me, and I felt something strikeme here. " He pressed his hand upon his breast. 

The knowledge that another was suffering seemed to renew the doctor'sstrength. 

"Let me see, " he said, more firmly. 

Carey hesitated, but the stern eyes forced him to obey, and as he satthere with the last rays of the setting sun streaming into the cabin, hebared his breast, to show a great red patch as large as the palm of hishand. 

"Spent or badly loaded bullet, Carey, " said the doctor, faintly. "Painful, but no danger, lad. The skin is not pierced. " He could sayno more, but lay holding the lad's hand, while Jackum watched in themidst of an intense silence, till a shot suddenly rang out, just as thecabin was darkening. 

"Hullo! What's that mean?" came in a deep growl from the top of thecabin stairs. 

"Ahoy there!" roared Mallam. "Where's that there doctor?"

"You ought to know, " shouted Bostock, every word in the silence of thegathering night sounding plainly on the listeners' ears. "Down below, with your shot in his limb. "

"Curse his limb!" roared Mallam. 

"Look ye here, " said Bostock, in hoarse, stentorian tones, "I've got adouble gun, double-loaded, in my fins, and I'm pynting down straight atyou, my old beachcomber; and I tell you what it is, if you begin any ofyour games again I looses off both barrels and ends you. D'yer hear?"

"Yes, I hear, cooky. I won't fire any more. You must bring that doctordown to see to me. I'm wrecked. "

"What's the matter with you?" growled Bostock; "too drunk to move?"

"No-o-o-o!" roared the beachcomber. "I fell down these cursed stairsand broke both my legs. "

"Oh, that's it, is it?" said Bostock, coolly. "I was wondering what wasthe matter. Well, it'll keep you quiet for a bit. "

"You send down the doctor, I tell you. "

"He can't come, and if he could he wouldn't. I'll send some of yourblack fellows to come if you give up your pistols and gun. "

"What!" roared Mallam. "I'm king here, and--here, you tell the doctorto come to me directly. "

"Shan't, " growled Bostock. 

"Big Dan brokum, " whispered Black Jackum. 

"Yes, " said Carey, "both legs. "

"Black Jackum go and men'. No. Big Dan shoot um. "

At that moment there was the sound of joyous shouting from the island, and the ruddy glare of a big fire played through the saloon window. 

"Boy big eat corroborree, " said the black, sadly. "Jack go eat snake?No. Big Dan not shoot, Jackum 'top men' both leggum. "

"Ahoy, there!" roared Mallam, from the bottom of the stairs, "if thatdoctor aren't down here 'fore I count five hundred I'll fire down intothe powder store and blow up the ship. "

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. 

"Master Carey, sir!" came through the broken skylight. "Hear that?Hadn't we better begin first?"

"Wait a minute, " replied Carey, who was trembling with excitement, brought on by the responsibilities of his new position. "Let me speakto Doctor Kingsmead. "

Bostock grunted, and the boy turned to the wounded man. 

"Did you hear what this wretch said?" he asked. 

The doctor pressed the hand which took his, but made no reply in hisutter exhaustion, and Carey drew back uttering a sigh, as much from painas anxiety. 

"It's no use, " he muttered, "there's no help for it. I've got to do itall. "

"Big Dan go mumkull ebberybody?" asked Jackum, quietly, and as if it wasall a matter of course. 

"No, no, " cried Carey, angrily. "I'd soon kill him. "

"Ha!" cried the black out of the darkness, for it was night now, withthe black's figure just visible in the flames from the shore. "No killJackum?"

"Not I, " cried Carey. "Here, let me come by. "

He thrust the black aside, and went under the broken light. 

"Look here, Bob, " he cried. "Can that old wretch blow up the ship?"

"Well, sir, that's what I've been thinking. It's all very well to sayyou'll do a thing, but it aren't always easy, you see. "

"But is the powder magazine close by where he's lying?"

"That's what I want to know, sir?"

"Don't you know?"

"No, sir; and that sets me a-thinking, how can he know?"

"But you've belonged to the ship for years. "

"Ay, sir, I jyned for the first v'y'ge. "

"And you've seen her loaded. "

"That's so, sir. "

"And you don't know where the powder magazine is?"

"Well, sir, to speak quite fair and honest, I don't. "

"Isn't that strange?"

"Sounds so, sir, but 'tween you and me I don't b'lieve there is anypowder magazine. The old _Soosan_ aren't a man-o'-war. "

"No, of course not. "

"She aren't got no great guns like we had aboard the _Conkhooroar_. What do we want with a powder magazine?"

"But there is a gun on deck. "

"Tchah! A little brass pop-shot, to make signals with. The skipper hadgot some charges for her, and a few boxes o' cartridges in a locker; butI don't believe there's even the ghost of a magazine. "

"Then it's all an empty threat, Bob. "

"I don't say that, my lad, because though I never heard o' one there'sroom for half a dozen. All I say is, it aren't likely. Only I don'twant you if we are blowed to bits to pull yourself together afterwards, and come and blame me. "

"No fear, Bob, " said Carey, speaking with some confidence now. 

"You see, sir, that old ruffian says that he'll blow the old _Soosan_up, and it may be solemn truth, and same time it may be only gammon; butit makes a man feel anxious like and think o' our raft and thewhale-boat Old King Cole come in, and think he'd rather be aboard one o'them than stopping here. "

"Retreating to the boat, Bob?"

"Yes, sir, or else chancing it, and that last aren't pleasant. I thinkwe ought to say, `Look here, my fine fellow, two can play at that gameo' yours, ' and get a tin o' powder, put a bit o' touch paper through theneck, set light to it, and chuck it down the stairs and blow him tosmithereens first. "

"And explode the magazine ourselves if there is one?" cried Carey. 

"Well, I _ham_ blessed!" cried Bostock. "I never thought o' that!Anyone would think I was an Irishman. "

"If I'm to take the lead now, Bob, I won't have any talk of murder likethat. "

"But it aren't murder, sir; it's on'y fair fight; tit for him beforeit's tat for us. Not as we need argufy, because it wouldn't be safe totry that game. Oughtn't we to take to the boat, sir?"

"How can we, Bob?" cried Carey, angrily. "You wouldn't go and leave thedoctor?"

"Nay, sir, that I wouldn't. I shouldn't call a chap a man who'd go anddo a thing like that. We should take him with us. "

"Hoist him with ropes through that broken skylight! Why, it would killhim. "

"Well, Jackum and me we'd carry him out o' the s'loon door, sir. We'dbe werry careful. "

"Pish! You know that the old ruffian commands the staircase, and heshot both Jackum and me when we were there. He'd riddle you both withbullets, and perhaps quite kill Doctor Kingsmead. "

"Well, sir, he's riddling of me now, sir; I dunno what to say; on'y itdon't seem nat'ral to stand still and be blown up in a splosion, whenyou might get away. Ha! I have it, sir. S'pose I get the boat roundunder the cabin window, and you and Jackum shove the doctor out andlower him down. What d'yer say to that?"

"Nonsense!" cried Carey, impatiently. "I don't understand wounds much--no, not a bit; but from what the doctor said I'm sure if we tried tomove him he'd bleed to death. "

"That settles it, sir, then; you and me's got to stay. But look yehere, Master Carey; they say it's best in a splosion to lie down flattill it's over. Ah, there he goes again. It's coming now. "

For Mallam's voice was heard once more, roaring for Bostock. 

"No; he will not fire the magazine till he has had another talk to you. "

"Think not, sir? I were reading in the _Mariner's Chronicle_ thatpirates always blows up their ships when things go again 'em, and he'snothing better than a pirate, say what you will. "

There was a savage roar from the beachcomber, and as Bostock hurriedalong the quarter-deck and descended to the cabin entrance two shotswere fired in rapid succession. 

"Big Dan go mumkull--kill a feller, " whispered Jackum, as the exchangeof words came to where they stood listening. 

"Drop that! D'yer hear?" roared Bostock. "Drop it, before I come andfinish you off. "

"Yes; come!" snarled Mallam. 

"I've a big mind to, you cowardly old thief. I want to pay you for thatcrack on the head you give me from behind. "

"Come down, then, you sneaking hound. Where's that doctor?"

"Too bad to move, with your cowardly shooting. "

"Wish I'd killed him, " growled Mallam. 

"You've bit your own ugly red nose off in revenge of your face. Ifyou're waiting for the doctor to come and put you right you'll have towait a couple o' months; and then if he's a bit like me he'll finish youoff out of the way. "

"Are you going to send him down?"

"No; I aren't going to send him down; but I tell you what I will do--ifyou don't hand up that revolver I'll pitch a lanthorn down alight so asto get a good aim at you, and then I'll give you two barrels o' this. "

There was a few minutes' silence, and then the beachcomber began again. 

"Send that Black Jackum down to me. Where's he been all this time?"

"Keeping out of your reach, you old madman, " growled Bostock. 

"You send him down. "

As Carey listened it became plain to him that no matter how defectivethe black was in speech he understood pretty well every word that wassaid, for a firm sinewy hand was laid upon the lad's arm and the mansaid softly, "Jackum won't go. Want 'top 'long you. Big Dan mumkullJackum. "

There were a couple more random shots fired, eliciting raging threatsfrom Bostock, and then the old sailor came back to the light. 

"How's the doctor, sir?" he said. 

"Sleeping heavily. "

"Good job too, sir, " said the old sailor, with a sigh. "Wish I could goto sleep and never know what's going on. Come much easier to be blowedup when one didn't expect it. Wonderful how cowardly a man feels whenhe knows that there's a lot o' gunpowder as may go off any moment justunder his feet. "

"But you must see, Bob, " said Carey, softly, "that it's only a bit ofbragging. He can't blow up the ship. "

"Think not, sir?"

"I feel sure of it. "

"Ah, I wish I could feel like that, sir, " sighed Bostock. "Youwouldn't, though, if you come up on deck and heard how he's going on. "

"I can hear every word, Bob, and so can Jackum. "

"Jackum? Ah, I 'most forgot him. I say, sir, his brothers, or whateverthey are, seem to be carrying on a nice game, over yonder. P'raps it's'cause they feel that they're safe enough. They've got a thumping bigfire, and they're dancing round it like a lot o' little children playingat may-pole. Seems to me, sir, that these here blacks grow up to bechildren, and then they makes a fresh start; their bodies go on growinglike anything, but their brains stops still and never grows a day older. Hark, there he goes again. "

"What, Mallam?"

"Yes, sir; you can hear him talking to himself as you stand at the topo' the stairs listening. He was at it when I was there, and he's at itagain. "

"What is he doing?" whispered Carey. 

"Seems to me, sir, as if he's tearing a way through a bulkhead so as toget a clear opening to the powder barrels. "

"If there are any, " said Carey, sharply. "O' course, sir; that's what Imean. Hear that?"

Yes, Carey had heard that--a sharp cracking tearing sound as of woodsplitting and snapping, and as the sounds continued it was easy enoughfor the listeners in the dark to imagine what was going on, and that theold beachcomber was preparing his mine. 

"Here, Jackum, " said Carey, in a sharp whisper. 

There was a quick movement, and the black squatted beside the lad. 

"You had better go ashore and join your men. "

"Jackum men? Jackum boys. "

"Yes, go and join them. "

"Jackum 'top 'long o' Car-ee boy. "

"No, it is not safe. You must go. Big Dan is going to shoot powder andkill. "

"Big Dan shoot big gun; mumkull eberybody?"

"Yes; be off while you can. "

"Car-ee boy come too?"

"No, I am going to stay here with the doctor. "

"Jackum 'top 'long doc-tor too. "

"But it is bad. Big Dan mumkull--kill. Shoot powder. "

"Jackum don't care fig, " said the man, nonchalantly. "Jackum baal wantbe mumkull. "

"But you will be killed if you stop, " said Carey, excitedly. 

The black laughed softly. 

"Jackum be mumkull, Jackum 'top? Car-ee no kill Jackum. Like Jackumlots. Give Jackum ticky-ticky. "

"You don't understand, " cried Carey. "Big Dan will kill us all if westop. "

"Hey? Big Dan brokum. "

"Going to shoot. Powder--gun. "

"Ho!" exclaimed the black, who seemed now to have some idea of therebeing danger. "Car-ee no 'top. Come 'long shore. Eat snake. "

"No, " said Carey. "You go; I must stop with the doctor. "

"Doctor not go, " said the black, thoughtfully. "Hole in leggum. Jackumwon't go. 'Top 'long o' Car-ee. "

"Better give it up as a bad job, sir, " said Bostock, from the light. "He means he won't go away and leave you. They're rum chaps, theseblack fellows, when they take to a man. "

"Because they won't leave me, Bob?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Then some white fellows are as queer, don't you think so?"

Bostock chuckled, but made no reply. 

"Bob, " said Carey, suddenly, "it is quite plain, isn't it, that we can'tmove the doctor?"

"Well, sir, I s'pose so. "

"Then it is impossible for me to leave him. If there is an explosion Ihope and pray that we two may escape. "

"What about me, then, sir?"

"You will go to the boat directly with Jackum. I shall make him go. "

"Right, sir, and wait in the boat till the ship blows up. And some dayif I get away from here and reach Brisbane and your father comes to meand says, `Where's my boy?' I ups and says, `He wouldn't leave thedoctor, sir, who was lying bad, having been shot; so me and a blackfellow takes to the boat and rows half a mile away so's to be out o'reach o' the falling bits when the _Soosan_ blew up as she did; and awerry beautiful sight it was. ' Then he says to me, he says--Yah! I'mblessed if I know what he'd say; all I knows is that I aren't going tomeet him; not me, my lad; I'd sooner have a blow up from the _Soosan_than one from him. "

"Bob, " said Carey, softly, "I wish I could reach up and shake hands withyou. "

"Well, so you can, dear boy, " said the old sailor, huskily. "Thankye, my lad. Go and sneak away at a time like this? I'm made of a differentbit o' stuff to that. I say, lookye here, Master Carey; I bleeve it'sall flam and bunkum. He aren't got no magazine to fire, or else hearen't got no pluck to do it. There won't be no blow up, and we'rea-going to face it with a bit o' British waller, eh?"

"Yes, Bob, we must face it, " replied Carey. 

"That's right, sir; then we'll do it comf'table and like men. Lookyehere, my lad, you must be 'bout starving. "

"Starving, Bob? I had not thought of it, " said the boy, sadly. 

"Then I'll think for you. I say you must have something, and so must I. Fellow's engine won't work without coal. Hi! Jackum! Something toeat?"

The black bounded to his side. 

"Jackum want eat. Baal hab bit snakum. "

"More you did, Sootie; but you shall have something better. Comealong. "

"Car-ee come 'long too. "

"No, " said Carey; "I'll stop here. "

"Car-ee come. Doc-tor farss 'sleep. Big Dan brokum. Sit alonga longtime. Baal fetch um too much drinking grog. Old man no good. "

"Go along with Bob. "

"Go alonga Cookie now?"

"Yes, and he'll give you plenty. "

"Plenty eat. Jackum come back soon. "

Bostock reached down his hand, but the help was not needed, the blackspringing up and rapidly making his way on deck, where he stood for afew moments gazing across the lagoon, stained blood-red now by the bigfire; and he laughed softly. 

"Black fellow eat plenty snakum. Jackum eat plenty now. Sit alongaself. "

A few minutes later he was happily sitting on the deck by the galley"alonga self, " eating half the overdone bird which Bostock had givenhim, while the old sailor had roughly prepared the most tempting partfor his young companion and taken it to the saloon skylight. 

"Here you are, Master Carey, " he said. "Brought your coals. How's theking?"

"I have heard him groan several times. "

"That's because he's low-sperrited, sir, because he didn't quite mumkullme and the doctor. But I say, sir, he's a long time blowing up theship. Got it, sir? That's right! You'd better eat it in the dark, forfear he might crawl up a few steps if he saw a light, and want to passthe time practising his shooting. Now, no gammon, sir. "

"What do you mean, Bob?"

"You'll eat that bit?"

"I don't feel as if I can. "

"But you must, dear lad. It's to make you strong to help the doctor, and mebbe to shoot straight again' Old King Cole. "

"I will eat it, Bob. "

"Right, sir! That's British pluck, that is. How's your chesty now?"

"Very bad, Bob. "

"Then sorry I am. Next time the doctor begins to talk you ups and askshim what he's got in his medsome chest as is good for it. I say, though, I s'pose it's no use to try and coax the doctor with a mossickof anything, is it?"

"Oh no, no. "

"Not a cup o' tea and a bit o' toast?"

"Not now, Bob; he's sleeping calmly, and that must be the best thing forhim. "

"Right, sir. It's Natur's finest fizzick, as well I know. There, I'llgo and have a snap myself, for it's the middle o' the night, and Ihaven't had a bite since breakfast. "

There was silence then, and Carey thought the man had stolen softlyaway; so he was trying to keep his promise, though the first effort hemade to partake of the food gave him intense pain. Then he started, forBostock said softly:

"He's pretty quiet now, sir; I hope he aren't hatching any noo tricksagain' us. Tell you what it is; I'm going down to him to-morrow with amattress to see if I can't smother him down till I've got his shootingirons away. We shan't feel safe till that's done. My word! I shouldlike to chain him up in the cable tier till we could hand him over tothe 'Stralian police. "

"Yes, " said Carey, gravely. "Bob, that's the most sensible thing I'veheard you say. "

"Is it, sir? Then I'll go and give myself a bit o' supper after that. Are you eating?"

"I'm trying to, Bob. "

"Trying's half the battle, sir. There, now I am off. "

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. 

The dreary hours crawled along, and it seemed to Carey that he wassuffering from a long-drawn weary nightmare, made up of his own pain, asigh or two at times from the doctor and restless movements, groans, andthreats and cursings from the beachcomber. 

It was a horrible night, for the boy, in addition to his other troubles, felt as if he were somehow to blame for the sufferings of the wretchedman below. 

Lying there in agony with broken legs! It was horrible, and the boycould not have suffered more if he had himself been the victim of theaccident. 

But there were breaks in the misery of that long dark night. Bostockwas soon back, announcing that his head was two sizes larger than usual, but that he was all the better for his supper, and ready for anythingnow. 

He told the watcher, too, that the black fellows ashore were stillkeeping up their fire, stopping probably to eat sometimes, but at othersre-making the fire till it blazed again, and playing in the bright lightat "Here we go round the mulberry bush. "

But the little incident that gave Carey the most satisfaction was thatsoon after Bostock's return to his post at the skylight there was a softrustling, a light thud on the floor, and directly after the blacksquatted down close by where the lad was seated, and, though he couldnot make out his figure, he felt sure that the Australian was watchinghim with the dumb patience of a dog. 

"That you, Jackum?" he said, softly, and he stretched out his hand, tofind it touched the black's rough head, which seemed to press itselfinto his palm. 

"Iss. Jackum eat big lot. 'Top here now. Car-ee go sleep. "

The boy sighed, and then there was silence till he spoke again. 

"Will the black fellows come back soon?" he said, as he thought of theidea he had had about keeping them off. 

"No come back. Go sleep roun' fire. 'Top all snakum eatum. "

Twice over it seemed to Carey that he lost consciousness, though henever went fairly off to sleep, but sat there suffering terrible mentalpain and the burning sensation in his chest as if he were being searedwith a hot iron. 

The night seemed as if it would never come to an end. Mallam had begunmuttering hoarse threats again, and at last startled all intopreparation for action by firing three times, each shot striking someplace on the upper part of the staircase, and once shivering some glass. 

Then he became quiet again, and it seemed directly after that Bostocksaid:

"The blacks' fire's out, sir, and the stars are beginning to getwhitish. Be sunrise in less than an hour. I'll go and light our firenow, and as soon as the kettle boils I'll make you a cup of tea. "

"Thank you, Bob, " said Carey, huskily. "I shall be glad of that. "

It seemed a long time to one suffering from a parched throat, and thepale light of dawn was beginning to steal in through the broken openingand the cabin ports, when there was the click of a teacup on the deck, and Jackum said softly:

"Cookey make billy boil. Car-ee tea. "

_Crash_!

Down went the tray with the refreshing cup on the deck, and Bostockthrust his head through the broken light. 

"Master Carey, sir, ahoy! Three cheers, and another for luck. If everthere was a sight for sore eyes it's now. Sail ho, sir, not three mileout, lying just beyond the reef. A small steamer, dear lad, as must ha'seen the fire last night. "

"Help at last!" panted Carey. 

"Ay, my lad, they've kept their fires banked up, and the smoke's pouringout of her funnel and hanging to leeward like a flag. "

"Iss. Ship come, " said Jackum, who had bounded up and inspected thevessel. "Jackum fess all aboy. Car-ee going fight him?"

"No, no, " cried the boy; "they must be friends, " and, utterly worn outnow, he broke down and hid his face. 

"Don't do that, dear lad, " whispered Bostock. "Keep it up a bit longer, for I must leave you now. Jackum and I must go off in the whale-boatand pilot them inside. Can't you keep it up just an hour more?" and theold sailor's voice shook as he spoke. 

"Yes, " said Carey, as his teeth grated together. "Go on. "

"Right, my lad. I don't think there's anything to fear, but take mygun, and if that old ruffian does rouse up and crawl to the saloondoor--'tarn't likely, or he'd ha' been here before, but I says it, mylad, because it would be your dooty, and you must--shoot, sir; shoothim. He aren't a human man, only a something in a man's shape; amurderer, that's what he is, and you must shoot him as if he was a wildbeast. Now, Jackum, give him the gun, and come with me. "

The black obeyed with alacrity, and a few minutes later Carey heard thefaint plash of oars, and sat there in the utter silence, watching thedoctor's pallid thin features, as he still slept deeply, and listeningfor the sounds from below which did not come. 

It must have been close upon two hours before that silence was broken bythe sound of voices, the grating of a boat against the steamer's side, and the trampling of feet on deck. 

"Jackum backum, " cried the black, as he dropped down, with his faceshining with excitement. 

"Ahoy there!" cried Bostock. "How goes it, my lad? Here we are. Boat's crew well armed, and we're going to have Old King Cole out beforemany more minutes are gone. "

"Take care, " cried Carey, excitedly. "Think of the danger. What areyou going to do?"

"Roosh him, sir, somehow or another, " cried the old sailor, "and I'ma-going first. "

"What! He will shoot you. "

"Let him try, " cried Bostock, grimly. "I aren't forgot what he did tome with one of the nigger's clubs. I've got Jackum's here, and maybe Ishall get its big knob home quicker than he can put in a shot. "

Carey had no further protest ready, and he sat in agony, hardlyrealising that it was strange the various sounds had not awakened thedoctor. 

But his every sense was on the strain, as he listened to a sudden rushdown past the saloon door, expectant of shot after shot from thebeachcomber's revolver. 

But no shot was fired, though a revolver was fast clenched in the oldruffian's hand. 

There was, however, to be no hand-cuffing and carrying off to thejustice of man, for the spirit of Dan Mallam the beachcomber had passedout that morning, as the old sailor said, with the tide. 

The small steamer lying anchored close by in the lagoon had after a longand dangerous search at last achieved her purpose, having beendespatched, with Carey's father and the captain and chief officer of the_Chusan_ on board, in search of the wreck if it were still on the reef, and the meeting was a joyful one. 

"I never could think you were dead, my boy, " was whispered in Carey'sear; "and your dear mother always felt the same. I knew I should findyou, and I have, thank God! thank God!"

"Car-ee's ole man?" said a voice just after, and Mr Cranford turnedsharply round to stare at the shining black face. 

"Yes, " he said, frowning; "I am Carey's--er--old man. "

"Me Jackum! You shake han'?"

"Next to Bostock and the doctor, father, my best friend, " said Carey, eagerly. 

"Then he is mine, " said Mr Cranford. 

"Here's a canoe of savages off from the island, " shouted the captain ofthe _Chusan_ from the deck. "Does this mean a fight?"

"Jackum boy come back, " cried the black. "No shoot; all good boy. Jackum take you Big Dan island. Plenty shell, plenty copra, plenty oldship 'tuff. Big Dan mumkull. Jackum give all Car-ee now. "

But no start was made for the other portion of the King's domain, for afew days were necessary in the way of rest for the doctor; and thecaptain of the _Chusan_ and the mate had to satisfy themselves of theimpossibility of getting the vessel off. During these days, though, there were busy times, for the specie the _Chusan_ had been bearing wasall hoisted out in safety and transferred to the smaller vessel. 

Not much else was done save the taking on board of the pearl shells asthe freight belonging to the doctor and Carey. The pearls were alreadyin safety, and Bostock made a greater haul with the help of a chum andthe blacks from the tubs ashore. 

"Twice as many as the first go, my lad, " said the old sailor, rubbinghis hands, "and, I say, oughtn't you and the doctor to lay claim to whatwe're a-going to find?"

"No, " said Carey, "and besides, we have not found it yet. If there ismuch worth having it will go, I should think, to the company that ownsthe _Chusan_. But we shall see. "

Carey Cranford saw the great treasures in pearls, pearl shell, andvaluables collected from wrecked vessels in the course of some twentyyears, during which Dan Mallam had reigned paramount in a lonely islandoff the north-west coast of Australia, for Jackum piloted the steamerthere in triumph, and looked proud of his achievement, while he pointedout everything he thought of value to Carey, and could not understandthe lad's hanging back from helping himself to articles he did not want. 

The steamer was nearly laden with valuable pearl shell and the boxes ofpearls hoarded up by the old beachcomber, who was supposed to haveescaped from Norfolk Island with a party of his fellows who had allpassed away. 

These must have been enough, with their insurance, to quite compensatethe company for their loss. In fact, voyage after voyage was made tothe _Chusan_ and to Jackum's island during the following twelve monthson salvage business, and with excellent results. 

But we have nothing to do with that. It is enough to state that theboats on the night of the wreck had been carried in safety to a westernAustralian port; that the doctor rapidly began to mend; that Carey'sinjured chest was doctored by a sick man; and that Jackum wanted badlyto follow the young adventurer when the time came for saying good-bye, and was only stopped by its being impressed upon him that he was King ofPearl Island now, and was to go on collecting till Carey came to see himsome day on a voyage with his father, to trade for all his copra, shell, and pearls. 

Jackum nodded and grinned. 

"Get big lot. You come some day, " he cried. 

"Some day, Jackum, if my father will fit out a vessel. "

"Iss, " said Jackum. "No Big Dan. Killa feller. Mumkull eberybody. You come sit along Jackum. Jackum show Car-ee how fro boomerang nexttime. Ha, ha!"

The last Carey saw of him then was the tall black figure waving hisboomerang as he stood up in his canoe, before showing his teeth and thenhurling the weapon, to fly far after the retreating steamer, to curve upand return--to the canoe--not quite, for it dropped into the sea somefifty feet away, to be lost somewhere in the lovely submarine gardens ofthe reef along by whose side the steamer glided. 

A fortnight later, with the doctor steadily gaining strength, the vesselglided into Moreton Bay. Then Brisbane was soon reached; but themessage had flown before on wire to the lonely watcher, waiting for theson she would not believe to be dead, month after month, tillthree-quarters of a year had passed. 

And when the house was in sight there was a figure at an open door, andCarey dashed off, his father hanging back, while Robert Bostock, mariner, who was laden with luggage, placed it in the road, turned hisback, sat upon it, and began to fill his pipe. This done, he struck amatch, but somehow when he held it to the tobacco there was a sudden_ciss_, and the match went out. 

"Now, how did that there 'bacco get wet like that?" he growled. "Dear!and she a-waiting all this time for the dear lad as didn't come. Ah, it's no use wishin', but I do wish as my old mother was alive now to dothat to me. "

"Bob ahoy!" came in a cheery shout. "Come on! Never mind the things. Here's mother wants to shake your hand. "

"Ahoy, sir; hand it is, " shouted back the old fellow. Then in a growl, "S'pose I must go. Think on it, though; me havin' a drop o' salt waterin one eye!"