s if I must run and jump about, or climb, or do something.
It's the fidgets with this heat. Let's walk forward again, if you don't
mind. I think it's cooler there."

"Cooler, Roberts? It seems to me as if the deck is thoroughly hot, and
as if one's clothes were baking. I quite envy the lads, with their bare
feet and open necks."

They strolled forward again, with the monkey softly following them; and
when they stood leaning over the bulwarks, listening to the ripple of
the water under the vessel's stem, the animal perched itself on one of
the stays just above their heads.

They could almost have fancied they were at sea, gazing down at the
phosphorescent water, so beautiful was the reflection of the stars in
the smooth, dark current, as it glided swiftly along, rippling a little
about the large buoy to which they were moored, and breaking the stars
up, as it were, into a thousand tiny points, that divided into a double
current and swept by the steamer's bows.

"What a night for a couple of prahus to come down and board us, sir!"
said Bob.

"Rather unlucky for them, if they did," said the lieutenant quietly.
"One good shot at them, or one of our biggest shells dropped into their
hold, would crash through, and send them to the bottom. There's no such
luck, Roberts."

"I suppose not, sir," said Bob; but, all the same, he could not help
feeling that this was a kind of luck which he could very well dispense
with, on a dark night. He did not venture to say so, though.

"How quiet they seem on the island!" said the lieutenant at last.
"Heigh-ho! ha hum! I wish we were there, Roberts, along with the
ladies; a cup of tea and a little pleasant chat would be very
agreeable."

"And some music," said Bob.

"And some music," said the lieutenant. "What's the matter with your
monkey?"

"What's the matter, Charcoal?" said Bob; for the little animal had
suddenly grown excited, chattering, and changing its place, coming down
the stay, and then leaping on to the bulwark.

"He sees something in the water," said the lieutenant.

"Crocodile," said Bob; "they like monkey. Look out, Charcoal, or you'll
be overboard."

This was on dimly seeing the monkey run along the bulwark, chattering
excitedly.

"Help!" came in a hoarse tone from somewhere ahead.

"There's a man overboard," cried the lieutenant. "Pass the word there.
Lower down the gig."

There was the sharp pipe of a whistle, and a scuffling of feet, for the