men sprang to their feet as a
native, clad in his armour of cinnet, stepped silently out of the
undergrowth and beckoned to them to follow him.

He led them through the forest till they reached another cleared space,
where, lying or sitting about under the trees, were the whole
population of Tebuan, with Mrs. Tracey in their midst.

All of the men were armed with spears and clubs, and were clothed from
head to foot in armour of coconut fibre; they all sprang to their feet
with a babble of excitement as the white men drew near, but at a sign
from Mrs. Tracey they at once stilled their voices, and sat quietly
down again.

Mrs. Tracey, now thoroughly recovered from her accident, and her cheeks
flushed with excitement, listened eagerly to Barry for some minutes,
then she beckoned the expectant natives to gather round her, and spoke
to them in their own tongue.

"To-morrow night, my friends, all will be well. This white man is my
good friend, and will restore me to my husband's _kaibuke_ (ship), and
ye shall see the two white men who murdered him, and cast me into the
sea, bound with links of iron, hand and foot. And when that is done,
then shall I give to every man of Tebuan a rifle, and as many bullets
as he can carry, and five hundred sticks of tobacco. And every woman
and child shall take whatever her eye desires--red and blue cloth, and
beads, and biscuit, and rice; for ye have been my good friends--friends
when I was sick, and distressed, and poor."

A murmur of approval broke from the wild, savage-looking people, and
one by one they came and shook hands with Barry, and then quietly
dispersed to fish and hunt, Mrs. Tracey warning them not to show
themselves anywhere on the inner beach, for fear they might be seen
from the ship.

Barry remained talking to Mrs. Tracey for another hour or so, until
Velo and some of the Tebuan men appeared carrying a large boar which
they had shot. This was at once sent off to the boat, as well as four
or five turtles, which had been captured.

"Good-bye till to-morrow night, then," said Barry, holding out his
hand. "Now remember, when you see two fires lit on the south-east
islet you and your people can start. On the beach you will find our
two whaleboats, with some of the hands awaiting you. They will bring
you all on board without making any noise. You and these two young
women can hide in the sail-room; the men will be taken care of by Velo
and our men until I want the