a number of fine fish. On landing we took up the finest to our
friend.

"I have thought of a name for her," I exclaimed, as we walked along. "I
remember reading of a Princess Serena of some island in the Pacific, and
I doubt if she could have been more amiable than this lady; so I propose
we call her Princess Serena."

Oliver agreed with me. Macco only grinned. Probably he saw nothing
like a princess about her--only a kind-hearted girl, who had taken
compassion on three unfortunate strangers.

We presented our fish in due form to the princess, and she graciously
received them, being indeed highly pleased with the present. With the
remainder we returned to our masters. They received the fish as a
matter of course, not deigning in any way to thank us. Without asking
their leave we slipped back into our canoes, and paddled away towards
the hut of the princess. The men called after us, but we pretended not
to hear them, and were soon afterwards seated round a fire roasting
several fish we had lately caught.

For several days we were employed in the same manner. At length,
however, the fish would not bite, or they had left the bay--at all
events, we caught but few. Each time we returned we were received with
scowling looks by our masters; and it was very evident that though their
disposition towards us had been far from amiable when we first
encountered them, it was now considerably worse.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

OUR PERILOUS ESCAPE.

We had returned one evening from an unsuccessful fishing. When we
reached the hut we found the Princess Serena in an evident state of
agitation. Looking cautiously around, she made signs to us that some
one was about to kill us, lifting up her hands as if they were holding a
club for the purpose of breaking our heads. There was no mistaking the
signs. We inquired of her what we were to do. She stopped to consider,
first pointing to the canoes. Then she seemed to advise a different
plan. Hurrying into her house, she brought us out some bows, and a
considerable supply of arrows. She then went in, and returned with
three baskets, which she showed us were full of sago, as also some dried
fish. She then made signs to us to eat as much as we could, putting
some kangaroo meat and sago-cakes before us.

We followed her advice. As soon as we had finished, going into her hut,
she returned with her child in her arms, wrapped up in a piece of
matting, which was secured round he