rousing the rest, and Dick soon joined me. I, of course, charged him
to keep a vigilant look-out, but on no account to fire, even although
the natives might appear with arms in their hands, and make threatening
gestures when they saw him.

When I got back to the camp, Charlie proposed that we should push off
and catch some fresh fish for breakfast, as the remainder of those we
brought with us were no longer fit to eat. The boat accordingly shoved
off with the four men and Charlie, while I remained on shore with the
other musket in my hand, that I might be ready to assist Dick if
necessary. Much sooner than I expected, the boat returned with a
sufficient number of mullet and bream to afford us food for the whole
day. As we were all very hungry and I had made up the fire, we quickly
cooked them, and I was just about to send Jack Lizard to relieve Dick,
when the latter shouted--

"Here come some people; but there are only three or four fellows, and I
cannot make out exactly who they are."

I quickly joined him, when I saw four men coming down the valley. Three
of them were undoubtedly savages, but the fourth had some clothing on,
and was taller and bigger than the others. He carried a huge knotted
club in one hand, and a spear in the other. The rest of the men were
also armed with spears. The first, from his dress and ornaments, was
apparently a chief, but I was puzzled at his general appearance. On his
getting nearer, though his skin was brown enough, I observed that it was
very much lighter than that of his companions. Dick and I stood with
the butts of our muskets on the ground, while we shook our handkerchiefs
with our other hands. As the strangers got nearer, to my surprise the
apparent chief shouted out--

"Hilloa! Who are you? What brings you here?"

"We came in to get water and fresh provisions," I answered. "And now
I'd ask who you are."

"Why, as to that, I'm Prime Minister, High Priest, and Doctor
Extraordinary to the king of this 'ere country," answered the man, who I
now saw had been a white man, though certainly I could not call him so
now.

"Very glad to meet you, friend; for some of the people in these parts
are not very hospitable to strangers, and we have found it difficult to
land to cook our food and stretch our legs, without the risk of being
knocked on the head."

"Couldn't say, if I had not been with them, but what my people here
might have treated you in the same way," answer