d she only, was the one who could decide whether she would leave the
island in the barque or accompany him in the cutter. But he had not
much doubt as to what her decision would be.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

THE MYSTERIOUS BARQUE.

When Leslie returned to the camp he found the tent lighted up, and Flora
and dinner awaiting him. He was tired, for the day had been an
unusually fatiguing one; and when a man is tired he usually prefers to
be silent. Nevertheless, he recapitulated in detail to Flora all that
had been in his mind during his walk home; and finally put the question
to her whether she would rather leave in the barque, or in the cutter;
the former, perhaps, offering her more comfortable--because more roomy--
quarters than the latter.

"What have _you_ decided to do, Dick?" she asked.

"Oh," he replied, "so far as I am concerned, I have quite made up my
mind to adhere to my original plan of going home in the cutter, and
taking our treasure with me."

"Then, of course, that settles everything," said Flora, simply. "Where
you go, Dick dear, I go also--that is to say, if you will have me."
This last with a most angelic smile.

There was but one reply possible to such a remark, so that matter was
settled; after which, having lighted his pipe, he strolled over to the
hut, to discuss with Nicholls and Simpson the unexpected appearance of
the barque in their neighbourhood.

"If she means to touch here, as I feel pretty certain that she does,"
remarked Leslie, after he had related to the two men the result of his
observations, "she will doubtless dodge off and on until daylight--as of
course she cannot know the whereabouts of the channel through the reef--
and then we can go out in the canoe and pilot her in. Meanwhile, what
do you two men think of doing? Are you going to keep to your
arrangement with me; or would you prefer to get the skipper of the
barque to take you?"

Nicholls regarded Leslie with some surprise. "I hope, sir," he said,
"that you don't want to cry off your bargain with us! I've already been
planning in my mind what I'll do with that five hundred--"

"Certainly not," interrupted Dick, with a laugh; "_I_ have no wish to
cry off my bargain, as you term it. I merely wish you to understand
that I will not attempt to hold you to it if you would prefer the barque
to the cutter. The barque would doubtless be more comfortable than the
cutter in heavy weather."

"May be she would, or may be