re-clad peaks and spurs of lofty
Bougainville stood clearly out, silhouetted against the sea-rim on the
starboard hand. The wind was fair abeam and the ship as steady as a
church, and Proctor scarce glanced at the compass at all. The course
given to him was W.S.W., which, at the rate the ship was slipping
through the water, would bring her within two miles of the land by the
time he was relieved. Then she would have to go about and make another
"short leg," and, after that, she could lay right up to Numa Numa
village.

Late in the day Rothesay had lowered one of the ship's boats, whose
timbers had opened under the rays of the torrid sun, and was keeping
her towing astern till she became watertight. Presently Proctor heard a
voice calling him.

"Peter, I say, Peter, you got a match?"

Looking astern, he saw that the native who was steering the boat had
hauled her up close up under the stern.

"Yes," he answered, taking a box of matches out of his pocket and
throwing them to the native sailor. "Are you tired of steering that
boat, Tommy?"

"No, not yet; but I wanted to smoke. When four bell strike I come
aboard, Mr. Williams say."

Two bells struck, and then Proctor heard Williams, who was sitting down
at the break of the poop, say, "Hallo, young shaver, what do you want on
deck?"

"Oh, Mr. Williams, it is so hot below, and my father said I could come
on deck. See, I've got my rug and pillow."

"All right, sonny," said the mate good-naturedly; "here, lie down here
on the skylight."

The child lay down and seemed to sleep, but Proctor could see that his
eyes were wide open and watched the stars.

Four bells struck, and Proctor was relieved by a white seaman, and
another native came to relieve the man who was steering the boat, which
was now hauled up under the counter. Just then, as the mate called out,
"Ready about," Proctor touched the child on the arm.

"Allan, would you like to come in the boat with me?"

The boy laughed with delight. "Oh, yes, Peter, I would like it."

Proctor turned to the native who was waiting to relieve the man who was
steering the boat. "You can go for'ard, Jimmy, I'll take the boat for
you."

The native grinned. "All right, Peter, I no like boat," and in another
moment Proctor had passed the child down into the boat, into the arms
of the native sailor whose place he was taking, and quickly followed. As
she drifted astern, the _Kate Rennie_ went about, the towline tautened
out