t like that," said the stowaway.

"Let me stay with him, sir," cried Mark; and after a great deal of
arguing it was finally decided that Mark should stay, and selecting a
hollow beneath some jutting masses of rock where the sand lay thick, the
stowaway was helped to his natural couch, the birds were thrown down,
and after another brief argument, in which Mark declared he should feel
far more nervous in going alone along the shore than in stopping, the
major started off on his journey in search of help.

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.

HOW JACK DID NOT APPRECIATE A STORM.

The night was intensely dark, not one star shining, and before many
minutes had elapsed after the major's steps had died away the face of
Mark's companion was invisible, and he could not help a sensation of awe
invading his breast as he felt how absolutely alone they were, and this
made him realise more fully the feelings of the stowaway, wounded and
faint, and believing himself entirely alone in that desert place.

But the darkness seemed to trouble no one else, for after saying a few
words about its being a shame and that he could never forget it, Jimpny
fell off at once into a deep sleep, his hard breathing telling its own
tale; while Bruff and Jacko obtained a delicious couch by scratching
away some of the dry sand and making pillows of the birds.

More and more, as he listened to the breathings of his companion, Mark
began to suffer from the horror of thick darkness. For to quote the
familiar old term he could not see his hand before his face. Out by the
edge of the lagoon, where a slight ripple was phosphorescent, it might
have been possible, but there, beneath the shadow of the rocks, nothing
could be seen.

All was wonderfully still, not so much as a whisper could be heard of
night bird or animal astir. Once he thought he heard a querulous cry
far out on the shallow sea-washed shore such as a wading bird might
make, but it was not repeated, and at last he found himself listening,
with his heart beginning to beat heavily, for the terrible roaring
sound, and the more he tried not to think about it the more the thoughts
would come, till at last he felt sure that he could hear something
moving in the jungle. Then again all was still, and though he had been
in momentary expectation of hearing the awe-inspiring roar, it did not
come, and he grew a little more calm, telling himself that he had
nothing to fear, and wondering why he could not lie d