think about that. Ugh! after
such an escape! Come along."

"Wait a moment. Where's the sun? It should be on our right."

"Well, it's on our left, now," said Billy.

"Then we've been going farther away from the sea. Well, we can't go
back."

"Go back, my dear lad! no! let's go this way, and make on till we come
to somewhere. Anything, so as to get right away from that horrible
beast."

In spite of his proposal to go back and try and get a glimpse of their
enemy, Mark felt more disposed to hurry away; and for the next two hours
they climbed and struggled on, half aware, and yet not willing to alter
their course, that they were going farther from help.

Mark said so at last.

"But we don't want help so much now, sir, as miles of distance. Let's
get away, right away, Mr Mark, and when we feels we're safe then we'll
talk about going for camp."

Mark said no more, but trudged on, and struggled through the trees, with
the ground growing higher and higher, till at last they came upon a
sight which made Billy Widgeon try to throw up his cap; but he only
struck it against a bough, and then made a dash forward in the direction
of something which quite for the moment overmastered all his feelings of
dread.

"Food!" he shouted; and Mark saw that he was making for a tall cocoa-nut
tree; but before he had gone many steps the report of a gun rang out on
the morning air, and this brought both to a stand-still.

"Ahoy!" they shouted as nearly as they could together, and a
faintly-heard shout answered their call.

"Hurrah!" shouted Mark, and he hailed again and went in the direction of
the response, closely followed by Billy, who cast longing eyes on the
cocoa-nuts.

The rest was but a matter of time, and was achieved by keeping up the
calls and answers. Sometimes they found they were going wrong, but this
was soon rectified, and in half an hour Mark's eyes were gladdened by
the sight of his father's face, as he forced his way out of a
cane-brake.

"Oh, father," the lad exclaimed, "I am so sorry!"

"Oh, Mark, my boy, I am so glad!" cried the captain, catching him by the
shoulders, and then pressing him tightly to his breast.

"You young dog! Here, Strong, give me leave to thrash him, and I'm
yours truly for ever. Why, Mark, my dear boy, what a stew you put us
in! There, if you'll go and look where I lay down to sleep for half an
hour you'll find some tears on the leaves."

"I'm so sorry, Major O'Halloran.