and the mate
carefully watched the faces of the three men to see the effect
produced.

Had the African been alone he would have been won over, and as it was
he turned about in an inquiring way, and looked toward the two men as
if seeking to see how they took it. Their countenances were so
immobile that he gained no information from the looks there; but both
the officers did. Abe Storms, especially, was a skilful physiognomist,
and that which he saw convinced him that the speech, coming as it did,
was a mistake. As is frequently the case, it was accepted as an
evidence of timidity on the part of the officers, and the conspirators
were given a confidence which otherwise would not have been theirs.

"It was a blunder," whispered Storms, when the captain stepped beside
him. "Those wretches mean mischief, and it is coming within
twenty-four hours."

CHAPTER XIII

THE OYSTER BED

Little Inez Hawthorne was overrunning with delight at the prospect of
a romp on shore, after having been confined so long in the cramped
quarters of the schooner, and she was darting hither and thither,
eager to start upon her frolic.

"I say, captain," said Hyde Brazzier, bowing profoundly and with
great humility, "we be greatly surprised by what you tell us about
the pearls, and we are very much obliged for your kindness, which
the same is a great deal more than we expected; but it has set us
all topsy-turvy, as we may say. If it's all the same, we would like
to go and take a look at that same pearl-oyster bed, if it isn't
inconvenient."

The captain and mate both understood the meaning of this, for it
showed only too clearly how impatient the men were to commit the crime
which they had in mind. Still, there was no excuse for refusal, and
the officers were anxious enough to see the place for themselves. Each
had his revolver carefully shoved into his pocket, and each knew that
the six chambers were fully charged, when they sprang over the
vessel's side and started toward the northernmost part of the island.
The captain and mate led the way, for they were sure they were in no
personal danger so long as the oyster-bed remained undiscovered.

The fringe of coral trees was quite broad, but, as the little party
made their way through them, they could catch the gleam of the water
on each side, while the roar and boom of the breakers never ceased.

The sun seemed to linger in the horizon to their left, as if to guide
them in the searc