were somewhat exhausted, I allowed them to take some rest and
refreshment before they began to load the boat. Of course it was not
the sand close down to the sea which was required, but that which, being
constantly exposed to the effects of the sun and wind, had become fine
and white. The operation of carrying it to the boat therefore took some
time. Grey and I had brought some cold beef and biscuit and rum and
water, and so we sat ourselves down in the shade of a clump of palm
trees to discuss our provisions, and to try and get cool. Some of the
men then asked leave to bathe, and I told them that they might do so,
warning them to beware of sharks and not to get out of their depth.

They had been frolicking about for some time, while Billy Wise was
sitting down at some little distance off, watching them. Suddenly the
thought seized him that he too would have a bathe, but he fancied some
rocks further away which might serve as a dressing-room. The other men
now began to go on with the duty we had come on. Toby Bluff, meantime,
was strolling along the shore looking for shells for Grey and me.
Suddenly we heard him shouting--

"Help--help! There's Billy Wise drowning. Some beast has got hold of
him!"

We rushed towards the spot where poor Billy had last been seen. There
was a considerable commotion in the water. Now a leg, now an arm
appeared. We ran on. Two of the men who had accompanied us dashed into
the sea, as we also did, and we all made our way up to the spot just as
poor Billy had disappeared under the water. We could see his limbs,
however, and, seizing hold of him, we all dragged away and brought him
to the surface. The cause of his disappearance was explained. Round
his right leg and arm, and indeed his neck, were entwined the long
tentaculae or arms of what I fancy was a huge squid. To clear him of
the horrible mass seemed impossible. Indeed it appeared as if the poor
fellow was already dead. We shouted for the rest of the men, and with
their assistance we dragged Billy and the creature into shallow water.
The monster would not let go, and we all set to work with our knives to
cut it away arm by arm, and feeler by feeler. Till this was done, there
was evidently no chance of our being able to restore animation. As it
was, there seemed to be very little prospect of reviving the poor
fellow. At length, however, we got him clear of the horrible mass,
which dropped into the sea, and none of