etter
satisfied. Sometimes my uncle steered, sometimes I, and always to find
that the light vessel went over the roughest rollers like a cork, and
without shipping a drop of water.

My uncle managed as well that we should run along the coast, so as to
see something of the country, with the result that I grew quite excited
by my desire to land and see some of the wonders of the place; and at
last the boat's head was put about and we ran back.

Now, however, the black chief took the rudder in hand, and ran us ashore
on the top of a great roller, which left us high and dry upon the soft
white sand, our companion jumping out and pulling us beyond reach of the
next wave with the greatest ease.

The spot he had chosen was close to the boat we had brought from
Singapore, up to which our companion had walked, kicking it with a look
of contempt; and I must say that I could not help feeling ashamed of the
rough, common, clumsy-looking thing, after our ride in that from which
we had just disembarked.

Just then our companion shouted, and half a dozen blacks came racing and
clattering to our side, taking charge of the boat, while we walked up to
the hut, not without some misgivings as to the state of its contents.

It was quite evident, though, that no one had been near it, and our
companion, with a look of consequence that was very comical in a naked
savage, took up his spear and stood aside while we entered and obtained
our guns and ammunition.

At this, however, he made signs indicative of his displeasure, shaking
his head and pointing to the boat and then to our stores.

"I shall have to trade for the boat," said my uncle; "and to tell the
truth, Nat, I don't feel at all unwilling."

So setting to, there was a long pantomime scene, in which my uncle
offered the black chief our heavy, clumsy boat for the new, light,
canoe-like vessel we had tried.

The offer was refused with a show of disgust, but not so great as I
expected; for, as I afterwards found, there were iron and copper
fittings in our boat that were looked upon by the islanders as a great
acquisition. So then my uncle proceeded to lay in the boat a bit at a
time the additions that he would give in exchange, his offerings
consisting of showy cloth, brass wire, and axes, till the chief was
satisfied and the boat was our own, after which he made signs for us to
get our guns, and we started inland for our first shooting expedition, I
with my pulses throbbing,