officers or crew attempted to interfere. Those of the
latter who were near only stood observing the scene and grinning their
satisfaction.

"Are you going to send a boat?" again asked Mr McDonald.

Just then another shot was fired.

"I'll do as you wish," replied the captain; "but I tell you it's more
than your friend deserves."

"I will go in her," said Mr McDonald.

"No, you can't do that. I will send my own men; for what I know, you
may delay the boat," answered the captain.

"It matters not, provided Fraser and the lad return," said Mr McTavish,
who was inclined to conciliatory measures.

The captain now directed three of the hands to go in the smallest boat
which was large enough for the purpose, while the rest were ordered to
loose sails and heave up the anchor. While these precautions were going
forward I observed the gentlemen watching the boat through their
telescopes. She reached the shore, and after a short delay was seen
returning.

I looked out anxiously for Mark, hoping that after the account I had
received of the island that Mr Fraser would have brought him back.
Great was my grief and disappointment when I did not see him in the
boat. Still I hoped that the passengers would induce the captain to
send a party on shore to look for him. I intended to ask Mr McTavish
to obtain leave for me to go, for I knew that if Mark heard my voice
shouting for him he would come out of his hiding-place.

No sooner had Mr Fraser stepped on board than the boat was hoisted up.
On this I ran off to ask Mr McTavish to insist on the ship being
delayed to allow of a search for Mark.

"We'll do what we can, my laddie," he answered; "though the captain
doesn't appear to be in the humour to grant any requests."

As Mr Fraser greeted his friends, I heard him say that he had missed
Mark, and supposed, after searching for him for some time, that he had
joined one of our parties; and that at length he had made his way to the
beach, having satisfied his hunger with some of the provisions we had
left behind. It was night when he had come near the harbour; and as he
knew the boat would have returned, he formed himself a nest under a bank
with some tussack grass and slept soundly till daylight.

When he found that Mark had not returned, he was as eager as Mr
McDonald to go in search of him, but all they could say would not move
Captain Longfleet.

"He is one of my crew, and you have no business to interfere with him