ith
her freight. I found that the divers select that period of the day for
carrying on their operations when the direct rays of the sun illumine
the depths of the ocean. On making inquiries through Tom Tubb I found
that, notwithstanding the number of sharks which infest those seas, very
few of the natives lose their lives from them, as they are always on the
watch for the creatures, and know how to elude them with wonderful skill
and courage. Every day brought us a fresh supply of pearls, and when we
found that it began to fall off we produced some fresh articles to tempt
them: gaily-coloured handkerchiefs and cloth, nails, scissors, hammers,
gimlets, and similar things. All this time we had not gone on shore.
The people were gentle and well behaved on board, but they were heathens
and savages, so that it was impossible to tell how they might conduct
themselves should they find that we were in their power.

CHAPTER SIX.

We had now obtained a fair amount of cargo, and I would have returned to
Brisbane well satisfied with our voyage; but Harry, being anxious to get
as many pearls as could be procured, resolved to wait on as long as they
came in freely and he had goods to pay for them.

Trading was just over for the day, when, looking towards the entrance to
the harbour, I saw the topsails of a brigantine appearing over a point
to the westward, but as the point was covered with trees, the masts of
the schooner could not have been seen from her deck. Her appearance
showed us that the island was not so completely unknown as Tom had
supposed. I immediately told Harry, who at once proposed sending a boat
to assist in piloting her in, and pointing out a good anchorage should
she be a stranger. Tom offered to go, and I agreed to accompany him.
As we got round the point, we saw that the brigantine was shortening
sail, and before we were up to her she had dropped her anchor in mid
channel, as if she were not aware of the existence of a harbour, or at
all events had no intention of entering it. She was tolerably secure
where she lay, and had the advantage of being able to get out again with
less difficulty than if she had come into the harbour. We, however,
went alongside. She was a rakish-looking craft, and there appeared to
be a good many men on board. As we went up her side we saw a swarthy
fellow with big whiskers standing to receive us.

"Hulloa, I did not know any other vessel was in here," he said, as we