he could get
to sleep he was disturbed by the sounds of a hideous uproar that came
floating shoreward from the stranger; and, going again into the open air
to hear more clearly, he presently recognised the sounds as those of
discordant singing, finally recognising the fact that a regular drunken
orgie was in progress aboard the craft--still further evidence of a
singularly lax state of discipline.

Leslie's couch was a sleepless one that night; for the fact was that,
taking everything into consideration, he could neither account
satisfactorily for the presence of the barque at the island, nor
convince himself that her errand there was an altogether honest one.
Therefore, with the first faint flush of dawn he was again astir; and
rousing Flora and the two men, he bade them get their breakfasts
forthwith and make the best of their way out of the camp ere the
barque's people should have had an opportunity to see them and become
aware of their presence on the island. And he further gave Nicholls and
Simpson instructions to proceed with and complete the rigging of the
cutter and the bending of her sails, in readiness for getting under way
at a moment's notice. Unfortunately the _Flora_ had still to be
provisioned and watered for her voyage; and it was just this fact, and
the possibility that the strangers might be disposed to interfere with
these operations, that discomposed him. But for this he would most
cheerfully have marched himself and his little party out of the camp and
left it, with everything it contained, to the mercy of the barque's
crew--whom he had already, in some unaccountable fashion, come to look
upon as outlaws. He gave the men the strictest injunctions that Flora
was to forthwith take up her quarters aboard the cutter, while they--
Nicholls and Simpson--were to camp in the natural fortress to which he
had that same afternoon drawn their attention, holding it against all
comers, and on no account leaving it altogether unguarded, either day or
night. As for himself, he announced that he would remain, as sole
occupant of the camp, to meet the strangers and ascertain the reason for
their visit; after which his further actions would be guided by
circumstances.

Leslie was of opinion that, after the orgie of the preceding night, the
crew of the barque would be in no particular hurry to turn out; and his
surmise proved to be quite correct, for although he kept a keen watch
upon the vessel it was not unti