cle of coral and earth which he had named Pearl Island--he would
never leave it. The immense wealth which lay hidden along its coast,
awaiting the coming of some one to gather it, would never be carried
away by those who had already come more than half-way round the globe
to garner it.

As the captain stepped upon deck, Redvignez and Brazzier respectfully
saluted him, and looked as if they were the most loyal of sailors.

Captain Bergen forced himself to respond to their salute, and then he
walked quietly over to where Abe stood at the wheel.

"Well, what do you make of it?" asked the mate, in a low voice.

"It's the island!" replied Bergen.

"Are you sure of it?"

"Yes; there can be no doubt. I made out the landmark that Grebbens
told me would identify it beyond all question. That's the mast which
they erected on the shore, close to the inlet. You can see it without
the glass," added the captain, turning about and looking in that
direction.

Such was the case, and Storms observed it plainly.

"What's the matter, captain?" asked the mate, bringing his gaze back
to the face of his friend, and scrutinizing him keenly. "You look pale
and agitated. Have your nerves given out after this strain?"

"Abe," said the captain, in a carefully-guarded voice, and glancing
over his shoulder, "I learned, a few minutes ago, that those two men
forward intend to mutiny and run away with the pearls."

"Is that all? Why, I knew that weeks ago!"

"You did?" demanded the astounded captain. "Why, then, didn't you tell
me?"

"I thought it was better to wait till we reached the island, by which
time their plans were likely to be more fully developed."

"That sort of reasoning I don't understand," said the captain,
anything but pleased with his mate. "But never mind about it now. Tell
me what you have learned."

"Not a great deal more than you have told. Those two men, I am
satisfied, are old acquaintances, who have been partners in more than
one crime, though we supposed them strangers at the time we shipped
them; and I have no doubt they began planning our deaths from the day
we sailed out of San Francisco harbor."

"What about Pomp?"

"They had a hard time, but they have won him over, and he is pledged
to go with them."

"And you have tried to gain the good will of Pomp?"

"I have done my utmost, and have treated him with unusual leniency,
making him many presents, some of which I gave him to understand came
from you. B