their doing so was I
could not guess, as they are not generally addicted to making a noise.
The sounds now grew nearer; then once more they appeared to recede.
Sometimes I fancied that they had discovered some sign of a person being
on the island, and were in search of me. Still, my concealment was so
complete that I hoped to escape discovery. Presently I heard a noise as
if some human being or beast was breaking through the underwood, and
looking out I caught sight of a man running. I looked again and again.
Could my eyes deceive me? If that was not Macco, it was a person
wonderfully like him. And yet I felt sure I had seen Macco killed on
the shore of Papua; but yet he was so unlike a Malay or a Dyak, or any
of the inhabitants of New Guinea, that I could scarcely suppose he could
be any other than Macco. It seemed to me that he was looking about for
some place to conceal himself. I could resist the temptation no longer,
but shouted out, "Macco, Macco!" He stopped and looked up with a glance
of astonishment. "Macco, is it you?" I again cried out.

"Yes, yes; oh, de joy!" he answered.

I now showed myself, and scrambling down from my aerie, I was in a few
minutes by his side, taking his hands and looking into his face.

"Yes, yes; you Massa Walter!" he could only exclaim, his feelings
overcoming him.

"But why are you thus running through the wood?" I asked.

"I run from de pirates. Dey make me slave," he answered.

"Then climb up here with me; there is room for both of us," I said. "No
time to be lost, or your pursuers may overtake you."

He was quickly stowed away in the hollow, across which I drew the bushes
as before. We had not been there long when again the voices of the
Malays sounded nearer. They were making their way through the jungle,
evidently determined to retake their captive. After a time they drew
near the rock. They seemed to be passing close to the spot where we lay
hid; but so well had I concealed the opening to the cavern, that though
they went completely round the rock, they did not discover it. Macco
trembled in every limb at the thought of being retaken. I whispered to
him to be calm, for I was in hopes we should escape. The shadows of the
trees began to grow longer and longer, and soon we had the satisfaction
of seeing the shades of evening draw over the island. We were safe, I
now knew, till the following morning, for I was sure the Malays would
not wander about durin