were lying at anchor at Lele we met an old trader there,
with whom Tracey and myself frequently spent an evening. One night,
when we were talking together over various matters, the old man, who
was very ill at the time, told us that he had a secret to reveal, if we
made it worth his while. Knowing him as I had for many years as an
honest old fellow, I listened with interest to what he had to say, and
in a few minutes he had satisfied Tracey and myself that he knew of the
existence of one of the richest pearling grounds in the Pacific; and
provided he could find partners who would deal squarely with him, he
would disclose the exact locality. His poverty had prevented him from
buying a vessel and returning to the island, which was only a week's
sail from Lele; but as the years went by, and his prospect of buying a
vessel seemed as far off as ever, he determined to seek the aid of
others. As a proof of his statements, he not only showed us a dozen or
so of splendid pearl shells, but also a score or two of magnificent
pearls. Some of these he entrusted to me to sell for him in Sydney. I
have, at his request, kept a few for myself. Let me show them to you."

Going into his cabin, he presently returned with six or eight pearls,
all of which were certainly splendid specimens. Placing them on the
scarlet table-cloth he pushed them over to Barry to examine.

"They certainly are beauties. I've seen larger and better in the
Paumotus when I was in the _Tawera_," said Barry, "but anyway, that lot
is worth 400 pounds or 500 pounds."

Rawlings nodded. "Well, to cut a long story short, we came to an
agreement with the old man, whereby I was to find divers, and provide
all working expenses, boats, and the necessary gear, and to receive
one-half of all the shell and pearls found. Tracey was to stand in
with us, too--old Gurden and myself were each to give him one-tenth.

"Taking the old man on board--the poor old fellow was not only in
feeble health, but was childishly anxious to, as he said, 'smell the
smell of a big town again'--we left Strong's Island for Sydney. From
the very first Gurden became weaker, and on the fourth or fifth day out
he told us that he did not believe he would live through the night. We
tried to cheer him up, but he only shook his head, and requested us to
commit to paper the exact bearings of the patches of the pearl-shell
beds on the lagoon he was doomed never to see again. This was done,
and