Part 51 (1/2)

”Fish,” said Je to climb up into the shi+p, and then tumbled back into the sea”

”Nonsense!” said Don, shortly ”Now you look to the left, and I'll look to the right”

”Right,scrutiny went on, and to Don, as he strained his eyes, it see up out of the sea and disappearing; and though from time to time he told himself that it was all fancy, the various objects that his excited vision formed were so real that it was hard to believe that they were only the coinage of his fancy

He turned and looked on board at the various lights, faintly-seen, with the result that his eyes were rested, while he listened to theof the watch and an occasional burst of laughter froular murain for the faint golden flash low, no sound of paddling, not even a athered together, and the great _whare_ stood with its singularly carved posts representing hurotesque heads, pearly shell eyes, and tongues protruding froht Don's arm in turn, for there was a splash far away to the left, belohere, faintly-seen, a great sugar-loaf h into the heavens

The splash was not repeated, but, just as they had given up listening for it, oncesound ca forward it ay aft--how far they could not tell, for in the darkness sounds, like lights, may be close at hand or a couple of hundred yards away--it is hard to tell which

The faint saent on for some time, ceased, and was renewed, to finish as before with a curious rustling and a splash

”What can that be, Je to wenture an observation again,” replied Jem, sourly

Then all was still save the ainst the bulwark listening intently, and thinking that before they went below to their haain and coil the had been going on

How long they had been waiting since the last sound was heard, Don could not tell; but all was so wonderfully still that the silence was oppressive; and after arriving at the conclusion that the canoe would not coht or movement ashore it was evident that none of the natives were stirring, he turned to Jem

”Asleep?” he whispered

”I arn't a horse, a up, Mas' Don--Think he'll come?”

”I in afraid not, now”

”What shall us do?”

Don was silent

”Say, Mas' Don,” whispered Jehtful pause, ”seems a pity to waste them ropes after--”

”Hist!”

Don's hand was on his lips, for voices were heard from aft, and directly after they heard the captain say,--

”Yes; extremely dark Think we shall have a storlass is too high Very dark indeed”

Then two faint sparks of light could be seen, indicating that the speakers were sested that they were chatting carelessly together

”Keep your hand down, Mas' Don,” said Je it ”They can't hear us, and if they did they'd think it was the watch

Say, look here, seeot 'em down ready”