from view, they made their first halt. They
stopped at a valley-like opening which ran in a sinuous manner up and up
till they had a glimpse of the central mountain nearly to its highest
part.

The captain, in his caution, set a man on the highest part to act as
sentry and guard against a surprise, and he himself took another and
walked a quarter of a mile farther in search of traces on the sands of
canoes.

Jack threw himself down beneath a group of cocoa-nut trees, with the
soft sand for his couch, and was delighted and puzzled at the pleasant,
restful sensations he enjoyed. Sir John and the doctor sat down a
little apart, and the sailors chose another group of cocoa-nut trees to
indulge in a quiet chat.

Jack had just half-closed his eyes, to lie gazing through the lashes at
dazzling light and rainbow-like effects seen in the mist caused by the
breakers on the reef, when a rustling sound behind him made him start
and find that it was their man.

"Only me, Mr Jack, sir. Hope I haven't woke you out of a nap."

"Oh no. I was not asleep, Ned."

"Tired, sir?"

"No, not a bit."

"Feet hurt you?"

"No. Why should they?"

"With the walking, sir. You see, you're not used to it."

"No, I'm not used to it, Ned; but I soon shall be."

"That's right, sir. If they had been hurting you and your boots felt
tight, I was going to say, come down to the water's edge and paddle your
feet a bit."

"But they're all right."

"Glad of it, sir. Mine ain't. At least they're better now. That's
what I went and did, and it's lovely. Thirsty, sir?"

"Well, yes, I am thirsty."

"Then I'll get you a drink, sir, same as the men's had. Two of 'em's
been up one of those trees--these trees like we're under, sir. They
calls 'em cocoa-nut, but that's all nonsense. They're not nuts."

"Oh yes, these are real cocoa-nut trees, Ned."

"Well, sir, I don't like to contradick you; it wouldn't be my place.
But if these are real cocoanuts, them we buys--I mean I buys--at home
are sham ones."

"Oh, they're all the same, Ned."

"Well, sir, 'tain't for me to contradick. I dessay you're quite right
and they are all the same, but they're quite different. Them at home's
hard shells with rough shaggy hairs on 'em, and inside they're white
solid nut."

"So are these, Ned."

"Beg pardon, sir, have you tasted one? You must have seen 'em hanging
here in the trees."

"Of course I've seen them."

"Yes, sir, and they're twice