s action.

"Well, this here is a rum 'un," he grumbled. "I never thought when I
come to sea as I should have to turn myself into a garden roller. But
one never knows!"

He began rolling himself as fast as he could after Wriggs, and at last,
after they both had to correct several divergences from their proper
course, they approached the two friends, who were seated beneath a tree.

"Look, Panton!" cried Drew, excitedly.

"What at?"

"Those two fellows. They must have found and been eating some poisonous
kind of berry. They've gone mad."

"More likely been breathing some bad volcanic gas. Here, I say, you
two, what's the matter with you?" he cried, as Wriggs rolled close up to
him, and stopped to lie with his mouth open, staring, but too giddy to
speak.

"I thought so," said Drew. "We must get them back to the ship and give
them something."

At that moment Smith rolled up, and lay giddy and staring.

"Here, you two: can't you speak? What's the matter with you?"

Wriggs pointed at Smith, as much as to say, "Ask him," and when the
friends looked in his direction, Smith nodded at Wriggs.

"We must get back," cried Panton. "Ahoy-y-y-y! Lane! Ahoy-y-y-y-y!"
he shouted.

"Don't, sir! don't!" cried Wriggs, in a choking voice.

"Why not?" cried Drew. "What's the matter with you? Here, try and get
up."

"No, no, sir," they cried in duet.

"Then, what is it?"

"Niggers, sir," gasped Smith. "Comin' ashore!"

"Quick, close under cover!" said Panton, and all crawled under the shade
of the nearest tree.

"Now, where are they?" said Panton.

"You can't see 'em from here, sir, but we saw the whole lot on 'em in
two canoes, a comin' on like steam, and they'll be here afore many
minutes have gone."

"Quick, then!" cried Panton. "Here, you are best at it, Smith. Hail
Mr Lane as loudly as you can."

The man stared at him.

"Hail him, sir, with that there lot o' black ruffyians just landing!
Why, it's saying to 'em, `Here we are, my lads; come an' catch us.'"

"Of course! You are right," cried Panton, excitedly, as he stood wiping
his face. "But what are we to do?"

"Two of us must try and track him," said Drew. "Do you think they heard
me shouting before?"

"Dunno, sir. On'y hope as they didn't, that's all, sir," said Wriggs.

"Perhaps they did not," said Drew, hurriedly. "But look here, Lane
can't have gone far, he was too weak to make much of a journey. Here,
Wriggs, come with me. Y