she wouldn't," observed Nicholls. "Anyhow,
the difference wouldn't be so very great, one way or the other. But
there's no five hundred pound to be got out of the barque; and I'm bound
to have that money, Mr Leslie--"

"Same here," cut in Simpson.

"All right," laughed Leslie. "Then that matter is settled for good and
all; so we need say no more about it."

"Question is: What's she comin' here for?" inquired Simpson,
volunteering a remark for the first time on record.

"Oh, who can tell?" returned Leslie. "She may be a whaler--although I
do not believe that she is--putting in here in the hope of finding
water. That is the only explanation that has occurred to me as
accounting for her presence in this locality--which is really a long way
out of any of the usual ship tracks. She is the first craft that I have
sighted since my arrival upon this island. But no doubt we shall learn
to-morrow--"

"Why, there she is," interrupted Nicholls, pointing. "By Jingo, just
look at that; coming in through the channel as confidently as though she
had been in the habit of sailin' in and out of it every day of her life!
And with nothing better than the starlight to see her way by. Well,
dash my wig, but that's a rum go, and no mistake!"

It was even as he said; for while the three men stood there talking
together the shadowy form of the barque, under her two topsails and
fore-topmast staysail, was seen gliding into the lagoon close past Cape
Flora--her skipper evidently perfectly acquainted with the exact
situation of the entrance channel--and presently her topsail halliards
were let run and the sails clewed up, the rattle of the gear and the
cheeping of the blocks being distinctly audible to the three on the
beach. Then a minute or two later came the splash of the anchor and the
rumbling rattle of the cable through the hawse-pipe, and the barque was
seen to swing to her anchor.

"Well, it is perfectly clear that the man who has charge of her has been
in here at least once before," remarked Leslie. "Evidently he knows the
place quite well. Now, I wonder _what_ it is that has brought him here;
I would give a trifle to know. And, of course, I could readily find out
by taking the canoe and paddling off aboard to ask the question. But I
will not do that; and, furthermore, it may be just as well not to let
those people know--until to-morrow morning, at any rate--that there is
anybody on the island, therefore pleads take ca