nconsciousness--a
course immediately followed by Frobisher--immediately there seemed the
least likelihood of one of them turning his head in the prisoners'
direction.

There could be no question as to the identity of the stranger--or
strangers. The steamer undoubtedly was either one of the transports, or
the gunboat sent by the Japanese to take possession of the island--part
of the very expedition that Frobisher would now have been engaged in
fighting, had it not been for the terrible catastrophe of the _Chih'
Yuen_ being cast away.

The questions then arose--how soon would it be before the troops were
landed? would they be likely to come that way in their search for a spot
on which to erect fort and barracks? and if they did so, would they
arrive in time? They would scarcely begin the disembarkation before
dawn, Frobisher conjectured; but dawn must surely be not very far off
now. He found himself praying fervently that his Chinese seamen might
remain insensible as long as possible; for the first that recovered his
senses would be almost certain, in his astonishment and alarm, to betray
the fact; and he could not but believe that when once the
"entertainment" commenced, the savages would not trouble to discriminate
between insensible and conscious victims, but would butcher the entire
company to satisfy their lust for blood.

He had been carrying on a silent conversation with Drake for nearly an
hour, during which time neither prisoners nor captors had moved; and the
first streaks of dawn were appearing to the eastward when the lieutenant
suddenly dropped his chin on his chest, as though shot; and so naturally
was the performance carried out that for a few seconds Frobisher
believed his friend had fainted. He was wise enough, however, to follow
the example instantly, and presently, through his half-closed eyelids,
he saw a couple of the savages rise to their feet and stroll toward the
circle of prisoners.

Drake himself was one of the first at whom they stopped. They looked
keenly at the down-hung head, and even prodded him in the ribs with a
spear-haft; but although the blow must have been exceedingly painful,
Drake retained sufficient self-possession not to utter a sound or
exhibit a single sign of consciousness, and after a pause the two men
strolled along to the next prisoner. This was the Chinese quartermaster
of the _Chih' Yuen_; and directly they touched him Frobisher realised
that the man was dead--fo