in his rough attire, that she had never seen a finer
man. He was tall, sinewy, and well formed. In repose his face was
pleasant, if masterful. Its somewhat sullen, self-contained expression
was occasional and acquired. She wondered how he could be so energetic.
Personally she was consumed with sleepiness.

He produced a revolver.

"Do you mind if I fire a shot to test these cartridges?" he inquired.
"The powder is all right, but the fulminate in the caps may be
damaged."

She agreed promptly. He pointed the weapon at a cluster of cocoanuts,
and there was a loud report. Two nuts fell to the ground, and the air
was filled with shrill screams and the flapping of innumerable wings.
Iris was momentarily dismayed, but her senses confirmed the sailor's
explanation--"Sea-birds."

He reloaded the empty chamber, and was about to say something, when a
queer sound, exactly resembling the gurgling of water poured from a
large bottle, fell upon their ears. It came from the interior of the
grove, and the two exchanged a quick look of amazed questioning. Jenks
took a hasty step in the direction of the noise, but he stopped and
laughed at his own expense. Iris liked the sound of his mirth. It was
genuine, not forced.

"I remember now," he explained. "The wou-wou monkey cries in that
peculiar warble. The presence of the animal here shows that the island
has been inhabited at some time."

"You remember?" repeated the girl. "Then you have been in this part of
the world before?"

"No. I mean I have read about it."

Twice in half an hour had he curtly declined to indulge in personal
reminiscences.

"Can you use a revolver?" he went on.

"My father taught me. He thinks every woman should know how to defend
herself if need be."

"Excellent. Well, Miss Deane, you must try to sleep for a couple of
hours. I purpose examining the coast for some distance on each side.
Should you want me, a shot will be the best sort of signal."

"I am very tired," she admitted. "But you?"

"Oh, I am all right. I feel restless; that is, I mean I will not be
able to sleep until night comes, and before we climb the hill to survey
our domain I want to find better quarters than we now possess."

Perhaps, were she less fatigued, she would have caught the vague
anxiety, the note of distrust, in his voice. But the carpet of sand and
leaves on which she lay was very seductive. Her eyes closed. She
nestled into a comfortable position, and slept.

The ma