were
loaded, he ordered me to pilot the way in the jolly-boat; saying that he
intended to remain on board, with the hands not required in the boats,
to complete the raft.

"But won't you leave the mates, father, to do that?" I asked.

"No, Godfrey," he answered, somewhat sternly; "I intend to be the last
man to quit the vessel. As soon as the boats are unloaded, they are to
return, unless Mr Mudge thinks it necessary to detain the jolly-boat.
Tell him what I say; and assure your mother that she need be under no
apprehensions on my account."

Of course, all I had to do was to obey my father; but I could not help
feeling anxious about him, as I had no doubt my mother would be,
notwithstanding the message I was to give her. Jumping into the
jolly-boat, then, I told the men to give way, as I wished to reach the
shore as soon as possible. The water was tolerably smooth; and though
our boats were heavily laden, we crossed the bar without difficulty, it
being now high-water, and soon reached the landing-place.

As we approached it, we saw three strange figures standing at the
farther end of the neck of land, apparently watching the proceedings of
our friends. They were perfectly black, having on the smallest possible
amount of clothing, with bushy heads of hair; and one of them had a
thick beard, moustache, and whiskers. Two of them had long spears in
their hands, but the other, whom as we got nearer we saw to be a woman,
was unarmed.

Mudge hailed us. "Take no notice of the natives," he sang out; "they've
been there for the last half-hour, and are puzzled to make us out. The
best way to manage them is to let them alone; and by-and-by, depend on
it, they'll come and try to make friends with us."

I at once gave Mudge my father's message. He replied that there was not
the slightest necessity for our remaining, and desired me, as soon as
the boats were unloaded, to pull back again to the brig. "Paddy Doyle
and I can easily manage our black friends; and it is far more important
that the boats should be employed in bringing the stores on shore," he
observed. "The only advice I have to give is, that you should cross the
bar with the raft while the tide is flowing, and pretty near high-water.
It will be better to wait for high tide than to attempt it as yet; and
I hope your father will secure the raft alongside, and come on shore in
the last trip the boats make this evening."

My mother sent a similar message, ent