rd voices, and looking round, I saw Mr Hooker and his party coming
towards me.

"No chance of getting off this time, I am afraid," said Mr Thudicumb.
"We shall have to build our vessel, and the sooner we set about it the
better."

"We must, however, put a house over our heads in the meantime," said Mr
Hooker. "This poor fellow, too, if we are to be instrumental in
preserving his life, must be cared for."

"Of course, sir," said Roger Trew. "We will have a hut up for him in no
time; and then, as it will be better to be near the shore instead of
remaining on the hill, we must get one set up for the young ladies and
the old Frau."

"Very right, my lad," said Mr Hooker. "But now, while you attend to
the wounded man, Walter and I will go and look for our treasures, and
ascertain whether they have escaped discovery by the pirates."

How eagerly Mr Hooker, whom I followed, looked round him on every side
as we proceeded to the hiding-place, lest he should discover any signs
of its having been visited!

"Alack! alack! I am afraid some of them have been here," he said. "Oh,
what mischief they may have done!"

We reached a hollow under the bank of a dry stream. Alas! the boughs
had been pulled away, and it was very evident that it had been entered.
The first thing we came upon was the jar which had contained the
nautilus: it was open and empty. The arrack had been carried off, and
the mollusc lay, entirely destroyed, on one side.

"This is sad--very sad! Oh, what a loss!" exclaimed Mr Hooker. "I
hope we may discover that no worse mischief has been done."

We went in, almost falling over a case which had been opened. Mr
Hooker examined it anxiously. It had not been disturbed, but after
being opened, the top had been allowed to fall down again. The other
cases were in the place where we left them. We now examined them. Mr
Hooker uttered a shout of joy as he found that all had escaped. It was
evident that the Malays had intended carrying off the cases, but had
been frightened away before they could accomplish their object.

"Now, Walter, run up to your uncle with the good news," exclaimed Mr
Hooker. "He said it would restore him, and I am sure it will. But do
not go without your fowling-piece, though. We have had examples of the
savage creatures to be met with in the woods."

I hurried along as fast as my legs would let me. I knew the delight the
announcement would give my uncle. I took the path we ha