, over the sand, and
immediately disappeared among the palm trees. There was something so
peculiar in its movements that Abe was chilled with awe as he stood
still and watched it for the few seconds it remained in view. But
there could be no doubt of its identity. It was Fred Sanders, who had
been on the watch, and who must have seen the mate dig up the
treasures, and knew they were now in his possession.

Storms was in anything but a comfortable frame of mind while walking
thoughtfully back to the cabin, which he entered.

"What more likely than that he will steal up here in the night,
believing I am asleep, and try to shoot me? Well, if he does so, he
shall find me prepared for him, anyway."

The first proceeding of the mate was to deposit the pearls contained
in the three diminutive canvas sacks in a small valise, which he had
carefully preserved all through the years, and which now held a few
necessities that he meant to take away with him. The addition of these
precious contents taxed the receptacle to its fullest capacity, but,
after all, this was the best thing to do, and he believed he would be
able to keep it under his eye during the comparatively short time they
would be on the voyage to Wauparmur Island.

It may be said, indeed, that there was nothing else to be done, which
rendered it unfortunate that he could not secure a few hours' sleep
before venturing away in the proa. But the nerves of the mate were too
unstrung by his position to feel easy, and he placed himself by the
opening of the cabin, with his hand upon the weapon, prepared to watch
until daylight.

As might have been supposed, in spite of his uneasiness, he gradually
became drowsy, and it was not long before his head sank on his breast,
and he, too, was asleep. It was well he did so, for he gained the rest
so necessary, and as it was, he might have slept longer had he not
been awakened by outside causes.

Captain Bergen slept on, but Inez was on her feet at an early hour,
and seeing that Storms was unconscious, she passed out without
disturbing him, and made her way to the spring, where she always
performed her morning ablutions.

It was natural that the mate, going to sleep as he did, with his mind
filled with the most dismal of fancies, should find his slumbers
visited by horrible phantasies. He was struggling with the figure of a
man, who had the face of Fred Sanders, and they were bearing each
other over an immense cliff, when his