people,
who were wonderfully interested in it all, and then gathered round the
doctor's other patients, examining their injuries, and listening to the
account of the surgical treatment, which was evidently related to them
again and again.

"Well, this is different to what you expected; isn't it, squire?" said
the captain to me the first time he could find an opportunity to speak.
"I was beginning to feel precious glad that I shouldn't have a chance to
get back and meet your mother after what she said to me."

"Then you think we are safe now?" said the doctor.

"Safe!" said the captain; "more than safe, unless some of 'em, being a
bit cannibal like, should be tempted by the pleasant plumpness of Mr
Jack Penny here, and want to cook and eat him."

"Get out!" drawled Jack. "I know what you mean. I can't help being
tall and thin."

"Not you, my lad," said the captain good-humouredly. "Never mind your
looks so long as your 'art's in the right place. We're safe enough,
doctor, and I should say that nothing better could have happened.
Niggers is only niggers; but treat 'em well and they ain't so very bad.
You let young Squire Carstairs here ask the chief, and he'll go with
you, and take half his people, to try and find the professor; ah, and
fight for you too, like trumps."

"Do you think so?" I said.

"Think! I'm sure of it; and I'm all right now. They'll be glad to see
me and trade with me. I'm glad you made me set those chaps free."

"And what has become of the crew of the other schooner?" I said
anxiously.

"Nobbled," said the captain; "and sarve 'em right. Tit for tat; that's
all. Men who plays at those games must expect to lose sometimes.
They've lost--heavy. Change the subject; it's making young Six-foot
Rule stare, and you look as white as if you were going to be served the
same. Where's the doctor?"

"He said he was going to see to the injured men," I replied.

"Come and let's look how he's getting on," said the captain. "It's all
right now; no one will interfere with us more than mobbing a bit,
because we're curiosities. Come on."

I followed the captain, the blacks giving way, but following us closely,
and then crowding close up to the door of the great tent where the
doctor was very busy repairing damages, as he called it, clipping away
woolly locks, strapping up again and finishing off dressings that he had
roughly commenced on board.

During the next few days we were the honoured g