with laughter;
"but you've told us all that over and over again. We want you to get to
the end."

"That's what I wanted to do, sir," said Wriggs, "but there didn't seem
to be no end and the water kep' a--"

"My good fellow, that isn't the way to tell a story," cried Oliver,
impatiently. "Now, then, get on: we've had enough of that. The water
swept you along a dark cavernous place where it had cut a way through
the lava, and you couldn't keep your feet."

"That's it, sir. You can tell it ever so much better nor me. Go on,
please."

"How can I?" cried Oliver, as there was a general burst of laughter at
this. "I was not there, so how am I to tell your story?"

"I d'know, sir; but you seems to know ever so much more about it than
me, for it was so dark and the water kep' a-rooshin me along--"

"Right to the entrance, where the stream swept you out into the open
air, but before you got there you could see the light gleaming along on
the top of the water, and this increased till you found yourself in' the
full glow of daylight where the stream rushed out and down toward the
sea."

"Why, did you tumble in too, Mr Oliver Lane, sir?" cried Wriggs,
staring open-eyed.

"I? Of course not," cried Oliver.

"But that were just how it was, sir. How did you know?"

"I only supposed it was like that, my man."

"Well that's a rum 'un, for I was washed right out with a regular fizz
at last, like a cork in a drain."

"And where?" said Mr Rimmer.

"Oh, over yonder somewheres, sir, and I warn't long scuffling ashore,
for there was two black fins out, and I knowed as Jack shark's shovel
nose warn't far in front."

"Was it in the lagoon?"

"Yes, sir, that was it, and then I gets all my things off and wrings
'em, and lays 'em out ready for the sun to shine on when it come up,
while I covers myself all over with sand, which was as nyste and warm as
getting between blankets."

"But I thought you said you were swept out into the broad daylight,"
cried Oliver.

"No, sir, it was you as said that: I didn't. I couldn't cause it was
the moon a-shining, and the stars and some o' them flying sparks in
among the trees."

"Well, you've got a rum way of telling a story, Wriggs," said the mate.
"What did you do next?"

"Oh, I snoozed on till it was quite warm, and my clothes was dry, and
then I takes my bearin's and steered off through the woods for port."

"Did you see any of the blacks?" said the mate.

"No, sir, and d