p me to undo some of the wrong you have
done," and he held out his hand.

The Spaniard bared his head. "And I swear to you that I will be true
to you and Mrs. Tracey, body and soul. When will you let me see her?"

"Very soon now, Barradas. But, as I have just said, we will have to so
plan everything that nothing must go wrong. All the white seamen will
stand to us to a man, but as yet Joe is the only one who knows of the
existence of Mrs. Tracey and the true story of the _Mahina_. As for
the native crew, they are simply burning with anxiety to help me take
possession of the brig. But that cut-throat Warner and his natives
have to be considered. You say that they are coming on board to stay
as soon as the ship is ready for sea?"

"Yes, that was the decision come to by Rawlings and Warner the other
evening."

"How many of them have rifles?"

"Only about half a dozen, but all of them have fantail tomahawks and
clubs."

Barry mused. "I wonder what is Rawlings' object in taking Warner and
his cannibal savages away? He doesn't like Warner--in fact, I'm sure
he's afraid of him."

"I believe this"--and Barradas held up his clenched hand--"I believe
that Rawlings' plan is this: After you--and myself too, most
likely--have been disposed of, Warner and his men will surprise and
murder all the native hands and the four white sailors. None of the
Solomon Islanders can speak one single word of English, and therefore
could not possibly prove a source of danger to Rawlings, Warner, and
the Greek when the ship reached Singapore."

"We shall get to windward of them all, Barradas, before we are clear of
this lagoon."

"May the blessed Saints help us!" said the repentant Spaniard piously,
as once more he shook bands with his superior.

CHAPTER XI.

CAPTAIN RAWLINGS PROPOSES "A LITTLE CELEBRATION."

Day after day the work of gathering its hidden wealth from the bottom
of the lagoon went on. Once at least in every week Barry managed to
communicate with Mrs. Tracey, personally or by letter, telling her how
matters were progressing, and asking her to be patient.

"In a week or two," he wrote, "we shall have possession of the
brig--without bloodshed, I hope. Now that Barradas is with us I feel
less anxiety. Whether they suspect him or not we cannot tell, but the
steward said that they (Rawlings and the Greek) certainly have a secret
understanding of some sort concerning Barradas. He (as well as
Barradas h