ad
also displayed a very manifest desire to eradicate, by their behaviour,
the bad impression that had been produced by their recent lamentable
lapse from the path of rectitude. Excellent progress had also been made
in the task of lightening the ship, and, finally, the savages had shown
no disposition to interfere with us. There was consequently a good deal
of lively chatter during the progress of the meal, and when it was over
the piano was opened and we had some very excellent music. The ladies
having retired, I rose to go out on deck and take a final look round ere
I turned in; but before I went I thought it desirable to say a word or
two of caution.

"Gentlemen," said I, "we have just come to the end of a very delightful
evening, and I hope that you will all enjoy an unbroken night's rest.
There is no reason, so far as I can see, why you should not; but we must
none of us forget that, so long as the ship remains where she now is,
she is exposed to the possibility of attack by the savages. Therefore,
while I do not ask you to keep a watch, or even to remain awake, I
strongly urge you to keep your weapons beside you, ready loaded, so that
if, by any unfortunate chance, it should be necessary for us to call
upon you to assist in defending the ship, you may be able to respond
without delay."

"Umph!" grunted the general. "Better tell us exactly what you mean,
Grenvile. We are all men here, so you can speak quite plainly. Have
you observed anything to-day indicative of a disposition on the part of
the natives to attack us?"

"No, general, I have not," said I, "and I know of no reason why we
should not have a perfectly quiet and undisturbed night's rest as we did
last night. I merely thought it advisable to give you a word of
warning, because I know the natives all along this coast to be
treacherous in the extreme, and very much given to doing precisely what
you least expect them to do. Beyond that I see no cause whatever for
uneasiness, believe me. Good-night, gentlemen, sound sleep and pleasant
dreams to you."

When I stepped out on deck I found that the character of the weather had
changed during the three hours or so that I had spent in the cuddy. The
young moon had, of course, set some time before; the sky had grown
overcast and seemed to be threatening rain; the clouds were sweeping up
from about south-south-west, and a light breeze, that seemed likely to
freshen, was blowing from that direction, dri