n heard
the first lieutenant say to him jocularly,--

"I say, my fine fellow: I believe if the truth was known, you slipped
off from Norfolk Island, and took up your residence here."

The man made no answer for a few moments, but stood looking the officer
full in the face.

"What island did you say, sir?" he said at last.

"Norfolk Island. Am I right?"

"I'm a chief of this tribe, sir," said the man sturdily, "and these are
my people. I'm not an Englishman now."

He went down into his canoe, and it darted away, propelled by fifty
paddles, while the lieutenant turned away laughing, and went to the
captain.

"That man's an escaped convict, or I'm a Dutchman, sir," he said; and
they went forward talking.

Don cast an eye round for Jem, but he was not in sight. Ramsden was
though; and, go where he would for the rest of that day, Don always woke
to the fact that this man was at hand, apparently taking no notice, but
watching him.

It seemed as if he would never have a chance to speak to Jem about what
had passed; but at last Ramsden went below, and after a little inquiry
Don learned that Jem was aloft in the foretop, helping a couple more men
at repairing some of the toggles and reef points of a sail.

Don ran up as fast as his skill would allow, and had hardly reached the
top when Ramsden came back on deck, and began seeking him out.

Don paused, out of sight now, to watch the man in turn, and saw him go
from place to place, looking about searchingly, and undoubtedly for him.

"Hullo, my lad!" said Jem cheerily; "come to help?"

Don shook his head, and remained watching the progress of the men, but
giving Jem a meaning look from time to time, sufficient to stimulate his
curiosity, and make him on the _qui vive_. Then to avoid suspicion, he
hurried down, and had hardly reached the deck again before Ramsden, who
had again been below, came once more on deck, and remained watching him
till dark.

"Let's get under the lee of this bulwark," said Don, when at last he
found an opportunity for speaking to Jem alone.

"We shall get in a row if we are seen," said Jem.

"But it's too dark for us to be seen," whispered Don; and this seeming
to be the case, they went into the shadow cast by one of the quarter
boats, and lay down.

"What is it, Mas' Don?" said Jem in a whisper, as soon as they had
satisfied themselves that they were alone.

Don related what had passed; but Jem did not seem to take to it.

"No,