ard to shoot down the enemy if
he comes on deck?" Carey nodded.

"Yes, keep watch," he said. "I'll go down." The way was easy enough
now, and the next minute Carey was on the saloon table, from which he
leaped to the floor, to face Jackum, who cried, eagerly:

"Doctor. Jackum know."

The black led the way to the captain's cabin, and there was a faint cry
of delight as the boy sprang forward and let his gun drop against the
locker, to grasp Doctor Kingsmead's extended hands.

"Oh, doctor, doctor!" he cried. "At last! at last! But how thin and
white you look."

"Loss of blood, my lad. Ah, Jackum!"

For the black had crept close up to the berth and squatted down, gazing
anxiously in the sufferer's face.

"Doc-tor mumkull?" he said.

"Killed? Oh, no, my man. I hope not for a long time yet."

"Mumkull--no," said Jackum. "Brokum?"

"Yes, broken if you like," and he pointed to the slit-up leg of his
trousers and a large bloodstained bandage, tightly bound round.

"Who 'tick 'pear froo doctor leggum?" cried the black, springing up,
with his eyes flashing and the look of war in his set teeth; and it was
as if he wanted the name of the member of his pack, as he drew his club
from behind, to shake it menacingly.

"No, no. Shot-gun," said the doctor.

"Ho! Big Dan?" whispered the black, and he pointed downward.

"Yes," said the doctor, and for a few moments his voice grew a little
stronger. "Carey, lad, the cowardly ruffian must have been mad drunk
this morning, for he came to me furious and foaming and accused me of
encouraging you to set the blacks against him. I denied it, of course,
and he grew more furious, using bullying and insulting language, till in
my irritation I struck him, and he went away, while I began to repent,
feeling how awkward our position was. But a few minutes later I had
come to the conclusion that the time had arrived when we must strike for
freedom, and I was looking longingly across the lagoon at where I could
see you practising throwing the boomerang, and wishing you back. Then I
turned to go forward and speak to Bostock, who was busy in the galley,
when I saw that ruffian standing just outside the cabin entry, taking
aim at me with a gun.

"I shouted and rushed at him, but he fired twice before I could reach
him. I felt a tremendous blow on the leg, but I closed with him and we
fell together, struggling down step by step to the saloon door, where I
loosed my grasp and