ed be, and, depend on it, will be up to some trick or
other if he thinks he can play it to his own advantage."

I repeated to Harry what Sam Pest had said.

"He must be very cunning to play us a trick while we are on our guard,"
observed Harry.

We noticed that the brigantine's boat pulled for the shore, her skipper
having apparently no fear of the natives. We were now waiting anxiously
for a breeze to get out of the harbour, but not a breath of wind stirred
its smooth surface. As we were not likely to be able to sail at all
events till the evening, when there might be a breeze, some of the men
asked leave to go on shore; but Harry, suspecting their object was to
have a talk with the boat's crew of the brigantine, refused, and told
Tom Platt to find work for them on board.

Captain Myers did not pay us another visit during the day, but we saw
his boat pulling back to the brigantine in the afternoon. What he had
been about on shore we could not tell, but no more natives came
alongside with pearls or oyster-shells, though we saw several canoes
paddling out as if about to proceed to the _Wasp_.

"If I was your brother I'd keep a look-out for any trick Captain Myers
may be inclined to play," said Sam Pest to me. "He may think that the
shortest way of getting a cargo of pearls will be to rob this here
schooner, and send her to the bottom."

"You don't mean really to say that you think he is capable of so black a
deed," I said.

"I tell you there's nothing he would stick at," answered Sam in a
positive tone. "I ain't very particular myself, but I've seen him do
things, besides the one I told you of, which made my blood curdle, and
heartily wish I was clear of him. I have seen him heave shot into
canoes, and sink them alongside the vessel, just to get rid of the
natives; and another time when we had some aboard who were somewhat
obstreperous when shut up in the hold, he shot them down as if they had
been a parcel of rats, and threw some overboard with life still in them.
If he does not meddle with us, he'll treat the natives in this place in
a way which will make them turn against all white men. For you see they
cannot distinguish one from the other; and we shall find it unpleasant,
to say the best of it, to remain here."

I heartily thanked Sam for the warning, and assured him that my brother
would not forget his good intentions, even though Captain Myers might
not act as he thought possible. Of course I repe