a sham," said Mark angrily.

"All right, sir! I don't mind."

"You get one into a muddle like this, and then are no use at all."

"No, sir. That's about it," said Billy coolly, and all the time as
serious as a judge. "I wish we'd got Jack here!"

"What's the good of him?--to send up the trees after cocoa-nuts?"

"Now, now, now, Mr Mark, sir, don't be hard on a fellow! I did think
as he'd send some down; and I believe now as he wouldn't because I give
him a cuff o' the head that morning for sucking the end o' my hankychy."

"Here, come along, and let's keep together."

"All right, sir!"

"Let's get up to the top of that rock first. I think that's where we
came down."

"Nay, nay, Mr Mark, sir. I'm sure as that wasn't the way. It was up
that one."

"I'm certain it was not, Billy. It was this. Come along."

"All right, Mr Mark, sir! If you says that's right, it's quite enough
for me. I'll go anywheres you likes to lead; and I can't say fairer
than that--can I?"

"No, Billy," said Mark; "so come along."

He led the way, and they climbed by the help of the bushes and aerial
roots of the trees right to the top of the rugged bank of rock he had
marked down in his mind's eye as being the way; and as soon as they were
there they stopped and listened.

"Perhaps they're looking for us," he said.

"Shouldn't wonder, Mr Mark, sir."

But though they listened there was no shout, no distant sound to suggest
that a search was being made.

"You talk about Jack," said Mark; "I wish we had got poor old Bruff
here! He would find the way home."

"But you see, Mr Mark, sir, it aren't no use to wish. Lawk a me! sir,
the number o' things I've wished for in my life--'bacco, knives, a
silver watch, silk hankychies, lots o' things, but I never got 'em."

"Never mind them now. Let's shout."

"With a will, then, sir, and put your back into it. One, two, three,
and ahoy!"

The peculiar duet rang out over the trees--a loud and piercing cry--and
as it died away, Billy caught at Mark's arm, and gripped it tightly; his
eyes staring wildly, with the pupils dilating, as from some little
distance off on one side there came a mocking "Ha--ha--ha!" and from the
other direction a peculiar hoarse barking croak, which can best be
expressed by the word "Wauck!"

"Let's get away from here, Mr Mark, sir," whispered Billy. "I don't
like this."

"Get away?"

"Yes, sir; they're a-making fun of us."

"Who are?"

"Oh,