ed, not only in the islands to the south, but here
in Ponape."

"They're a bad lot, I believe, Velo," answered the mate in English,
"but you and the rest of the men must try and avoid quarrelling with
them."

Velo nodded. "Aye, but they are rude of speech, and will scarce move
out of our way; and our men from the Gilbert Islands are quick to
anger. Trouble will come."

Trouble did come, and much sooner than even Velo had anticipated.

At ten o'clock on the morning of the fifth day the calm still
continued, but there was a faint, fleecy wall of cloud to the
north-east which Barry knew meant wind in a few hours. Ponape was
still in sight about forty miles distant.

The ship was very quiet, for the heat was so intense that beyond
washing down decks the crew had done nothing since sunrise, and the
watch were lying down under the topgallant foc's'le, smoking and
mending clothes. On the main-hatch was Warner's whaleboat, and sitting
around her were the savage crew, chewing betel-nut and expectorating
the scarlet juice in every direction. Mr. Warner himself was aft,
showing Rawlings the mechanism of a Vetterli rifle. Early as was the
hour he was already half-drunk, and every now and then would stagger
against the rail or knock against the wheel or skylight flaps.

Presently he stumbled along the deck towards Barry, and holding the
rifle in his left hand clapped the officer on the shoulder with his
right.

"You're a mighty solemn-faced cuss, young feller," he said, with
drunken hilarity; "have a drink with me, and don't be so ---- high and
mighty. I'm a damned good sort when you know me--ain't that so, Jim
Rawlings?"

"A very good sort indeed," answered the captain suavely; "but a bit too
convivial too early in the day."

"You be damned and let me be; don't try to put on frills, Jimmy, my
boy," and still clutching Barry's shoulder he grinned insolently at
Rawlings, whose dark, handsome face paled with sudden passion as he
turned away with an exclamation of anger.

By a sudden movement he freed himself from Warner's grasp, just as the
latter repeated his invitation to him to come below and have a drink.

"I don't want to drink with you or any one else when it is my watch on
deck," he said shortly.

Warner's coarse face grew purple with rage. "You don't say so! Why,
who the blazes are you any way? Don't you try to put on airs with me,
young feller, or you'll get hurt."

Boiling with anger as he was, th