d had all his plans made, some of
the men were sent to the boats, and arms for others were laid out.

"They were right on Gorbatch rookery?" the agent asked.

"Yes, sir," Colin replied, "at the Reef Point end."

The party was swinging along at a fast half-run over the sands that lay
between the edge of the village and the beginning of the rookery, and
with the rising of the moon the fog seemed to thin.

"I had rather we were a little nearer before it gets too light," the
agent said, "but we'd better make the best use we can of our time."

On reaching the wall, the agent vaulted lightly over it, the rest
following suit, and to Colin's surprise the official led the way behind
the rookery, threading in and out between idle bulls, who made a display
of great ferocity but never actually attacked. The agent paid not the
slightest heed to any of them, merely keeping out of reach of their
teeth.

As they turned a corner, a cloud which had partly obscured the moon
passed and showed them an unexpected sight. Magnified into gigantic
forms by the fog were the figures of six men, apparently all armed,
facing Hank, the old whaler, who, with both revolvers, was keeping them
at bay. He was close to the shore, standing behind two old,
wicked-looking beachmasters, who, in the unnatural light, appeared to
be twice their natural size. Hank let out a hail as soon as he saw the
government party coming to his assistance, but he did not relax his
vigilance.

"I've got this bunch covered," he said, "an' they can't get to their
boat. One load did get off."

Hearing his shout the invaders turned quickly, but found themselves
overpowered, for a dozen rifles were leveled at them. They knew, too,
that natives who are trained to shoot fur seal in the water--as most of
those men had done before pelagic sealing was stopped--could be counted
on as good shots.

The agent, who spoke sufficient Japanese for simple needs, demanded the
surrender of the raiders and asked which was the officer of the party.
This question they refused to understand.

"I suppose he went off in the other boat," hazarded the agent. "That's a
pity. He stands a good chance of being shot!"

Colin looked up inquiringly.

"How do you expect to catch him now?" he asked.

"The fog is clearing away. Obviously!" the agent answered.

"Quite a lot," the boy admitted.

[Illustration: A TYPICAL SEAL ROOKERY, HALF ABANDONED.

Showing the massing of the harems, the watchful f