appeared just as they rounded the point for which they had
been making; but still there was no sign of the camp. Nothing but the
purple lagoon stretching on and on, with the creamy line of surf on one
side, the fringe of cocoa-nut trees right down to the sand on the other.

"A good clear row at all events," said the captain. "Here, Gregory,
let's take the oars and pull till we can't see."

The mate changed places with the sailor in front, the captain took Billy
Widgeon's oar, and the boat began to travel more rapidly, but still
there was no sign of the camp. The stars came out, the water seemed to
turn black, and in a very short time all was darkness; but there was no
difficulty in keeping on, for the light-coloured sands on the one side
acted as a guide, and the roar of the breakers on the reef kept them
away on the other.

There was something very awe-inspiring though in the journey in the
dark; and in spite of himself Mark could not help feeling that it was
rather uncanny to be riding over the black water with what seemed to be
golden serpents rushing away in undulating fashion on either side.
Then, too, there was a curious quivering glow, something like an aurora,
playing about the top of the mountain on their left; while all at once,
plainly heard now by all, there came the distant roar of the creature
which had so far remained undiscovered.

"We must be getting near home now," said the captain quietly, "for that
sound comes always from the north-west of the camp."

He spoke calmly enough, but Mark detected a peculiarity in his voice
which he had noted before when his father was anxious, and this finally
gave place to words.

"I hope the women have not been alarmed by that sound, Gregory," he said
at last.

"I hope so too," said the mate quietly. "It may be a timid creature
after all. I believe it's one of those great orang-outangs. I've never
heard one, but I've read that they can roar terribly."

"I hope it's nothing worse," said the captain in a low tone.

"Keep on, of course?" whispered Gregory.

"I think so, as long as we can see. We must have nearly circumnavigated
the island, and it will have been a splendid day's work to have
discovered the ship and done that too."

"I've got two hours' more row in me," said Gregory quietly. "By that
time the men will have another hour in them, and at the worst we could
manage another hour afterwards. Before then we must have reached camp."

"Ah, what