lings and Barry passed beneath,
walking along a disused native path, while the two boats pulled along
the shore. The village was found to be abandoned.

After examining the nearest islands, and deciding upon a spot whereon
to build a station, the two white men returned to the boats, which
pulled out towards the centre of the lagoon. Half a mile due west from
the centre of the south-east islet the deep blue water began to lighten
in colour, till it became a pale green, and the coral bottom lay dearly
revealed at a depth of five fathoms.

"This is one of the patches mentioned by Gurden," said Barry, after
carefully taking bearings, and studying a rough plan of the lagoon
which had been given him by Rawlings; "let us try here first. Billy
Onotoa, and you, Tom Arorai, go down and see."

Billy and a countryman--a short square-built native of the Line
Islands--let go their oars, picked up their diving sticks, and were
over the side in an instant; but even before they were half-way down
the other natives in the boat, who were intently scanning the bottom,
cried out that they could see "plenty pearl shell." The truth of their
assertions was soon proved by the two divers returning to the surface,
each carrying two pairs of splendid shells as large as dinner plates.

Rawlings' dark eyes sparkled. "What do you think of that, Mr. Barry?"

"If the rest of the patches in the lagoon have shell like that, there
is a huge fortune in it--shell such as that is worth 250 pounds a ton.
A fortune indeed--even if not a single pearl was found."

Rawlings breathed excitedly. "But there are plenty, plenty. We can be
certain of that. Let us get back to the ship as quickly as possible,
and get ready to start work," and seizing the steer oar, he bade the
men give way, not with an encouraging word, but a savage oath.

Barry looked at him in astonishment and disgust combined. The man's
usual smiling, self-complacent manner had disappeared, and he now
seemed a prey to emotion, his face alternately paling and flushing with
excitement, and Barry saw that his whole frame was trembling. By the
time the boats came alongside the brig, however, he was restored to his
usual self.

Barradas, Warner, and Paul, the truculent-looking Greek boatswain, were
on the main-deck as Rawlings ascended.

"Well?" said Barradas inquiringly.

"It's all right," answered Rawlings in a low voice, as if he feared to
speak aloud; "we shall be well repaid for a