Part 13 (1/2)

He'll knohat to do”

”What are you after, Hank?” asked the boy, tightening his belt

”Whatever co,” was the terse reply

Colin pitched off his heavy coat and started It was over a half-ood condition and the path was sent's bedroom door

”Eh? What's that? japanese raiders! You've been drea, boy Go back to bed”

”Do I look as if I'd been dreanantly ”How do you suppose I could run myself out of breath in a dream? Hank ith me

He heard theent was already up and busy

”Wake the village!” he said shortly

Without waiting to find out how this should be done, Colin started off at a run, and picking up a killing club that lay handy, he sped down the village street, hitting a resounding 'whack' on every door as he passed

As he came back, up the other side of the street, the natives were streao to the agent, whereupon those who understood English started ient was ready and had all his plans made, some of the men were sent to the boats, and arht on Gorbatch rookery?” the agent asked

”Yes, sir,” Colin replied, ”at the Reef Point end”

The party inging along at a fast half-run over the sands that lay between the edge of the village and the beginning of the rookery, and with the rising of theseemed to thin

”I had rather ere a little nearer before it gets too light,” the agent said, ”but we'd betterthe wall, the agent vaulted lightly over it, the rest following suit, and to Colin's surprise the official led the way behind the rookery, threading in and out between idle bulls, who reat ferocity but never actually attacked The agent paid not the slightest heed to any of the out of reach of their teeth

As they turned a corner, a cloud which had partly obscured the nified into gigantic forures of sixHank, the old whaler, ith both revolvers, was keeping the behind two old, wicked-looking beachht, appeared to be twice their natural size Hank let out a hail as soon as he saw the govern to his assistance, but he did not relax his vigilance

”I've got this bunch covered,” he said, ”an' they can't get to their boat One load did get off”

Hearing his shout the invaders turned quickly, but found themselves overpowered, for a dozen rifles were leveled at them They knew, too, that natives who are trained to shoot fur seal in the water--aswas stopped--could be counted on as good shots

The agent, who spoke sufficient japanese for simple needs, demanded the surrender of the raiders and asked which was the officer of the party

This question they refused to understand

”I suppose he went off in the other boat,” hazarded the agent ”That's a pity He stands a good chance of being shot!”

Colin looked up inquiringly

”How do you expect to catch hi away Obviously!” the agent answered

”Quite a lot,” the boy admitted