radius of the area that caught the illumination of the fire, he
presently noticed something lying on the ground that bore an uncanny
likeness to a human skeleton! He said nothing about it, however--having
no wish that Flora's shaken nerves should be subjected to any further
shock just then, especially as the imperfect view of the object that had
been afforded him by the flickering light of the flames left him quite
uncertain as to its identity--but at once went to work again with his
tomahawk in a vigorous onslaught upon the bushes, managing, in another
ten minutes or so, to make such a clearance of them as would enable his
companion to pass out without difficulty.

By the time that he had accomplished this, Flora had so far recovered
that she declared herself quite ready to essay the journey back to the
camp; and they accordingly set out forthwith, Dick very carefully noting
the surrounding landmarks, with the fixed determination to return at an
early moment and thoroughly examine the interior of the cavern. As they
went, Flora beguiled the way by relating to Dick, in full detail, all
the particulars of her very unpleasant adventure; listening in return to
Dick's account of his return to camp, his consternation at the discovery
of her absence, and his long, arduous, and almost despairing search for
her.

They reached camp about two o'clock in the afternoon; and after
snatching a hasty meal made up of the first odds and ends that they
could lay their hands upon, retired at once to their respective couches
to get an hour or two of that rest of which they both stood in such
urgent need.

It was within an hour of sunset when Dick awoke and turned out. His
first care was to light up the cooking-stove and get some sort of a
dinner under way; and, this done, he strolled over to the natives' hut
to ascertain what these gentry were doing, as nothing was to be seen of
them in the vicinity of the camp. They were not in the hut; and when he
looked for their canoe he discovered that it had also disappeared. His
first thought was that they might have gone off to the brig and
attempted on their own account to continue the work of breaking up her
decks; and he felt a trifle vexed at the idea, fearing that in their
ignorance they might do a great deal more harm than good. But upon
procuring his telescope and bringing it to bear upon the brig he soon
satisfied himself that the canoe was not alongside her; nor, when he
looked fu