they themselves sank in the vast, watery waste.

"I don't know whether they think anything is wrong yet or not, but
imagine I am trying to keep off until after dark."

"Why, then, don't they respect your purpose and work with you?"

"The leader of that company is an islander who is somewhat jealous of
me. He believes he knows more about such business than I do, and he
has made up his mind to keep this in hand, no matter what my wishes
are. So, though he may think I mean all right, yet he is sure he knows
better, and governs himself accordingly."

"These two men here on board try to look indifferent, but they act
suspiciously to me."

"And they are suspicious, too."

Fred Sanders might have added further that they were not only
suspicious, but had actually discovered the truth.

They understood the purpose which had brought all three to the lonely
island, and they knew that that purpose had been changed.

Inez Hawthorne, the girl of his own race, had caused this wonderful
transformation in the heart of the young captain, and instead of being
her enemy, he had become the devoted friend of herself and companion.
While they could not understand the English tongue as they heard it
spoken, they could read the meaning of looks and gestures and the
confidential talks which they saw going on around them. They were
convinced that their captain intended to betray them, and prevent the
wealth from falling into their hands.

Would they submit?

Far from it. They would not only refuse to give their assent to any
such perfidy, but they would use their utmost endeavors to defeat it.
Such was their purpose, and Fred Sanders knew it, for he understood
the character of the wretches; well, therefore, was it that he
whispered the warning in the ear of Mate Abram Storms.

Inez Hawthorne sat at the front of the proa, in the place that had
been assigned her, for something seemed to tell her that the men were
so occupied with their duties that it would be better for her to keep
away from them. It was with much reluctance that she consented to
exchange the few words with Captain Fred Sanders, and little did she
dream that it was those same few words which turned the young man from
a deadly enemy into the most devoted ally, and gave some promise of
life to herself and her companion. Yet, as we have shown, such was the
fact.

CHAPTER XXXIV

CLOSING IN

When the sun sank in the western horizon, the situation of the two
c