d, learning this, provided
ourselves with everything we thought necessary for the enterprise. Our
tent and possessions were left in charge of a wealthy mandarin, whom we
fortunately met at Swatow, while we looked to the state of our weapons,
for we fully expected to need them in the adventure before us.

II.

"I think these Formosans are altogether too friendly, Harold," said
Denviers, as we eventually reached the rough coast to which we had been
directed, and our boat was being dragged through the blinding surf by a
dozen fierce-looking savages.

"The sahibs need not fear," interposed Hassan, as he overheard this
remark; "it is necessary that we should be led by them, for not
otherwise could we see Wimpai, who is their head-man, so the coolies
told me."

"I expect we could have managed very well without seeing him," I
replied. "Would it not have been possible to have found the sailor's
treasure, wherever it is hidden, without landing at a spot where these
savages were evidently on the look-out?"

"Not so, by Mahomet!" answered the Arab. "The sahibs would certainly be
slain if they attempted to do so without Wimpai permitted them."

"Well, come on then," said Denviers, as he made his way through the
wreckage and huge fragments of coral lying on the beach: "I daresay we
shall get out of this adventure as safely as we have others. Our new
acquaintances are certainly making themselves quite at home with our
possessions, before being invited even," he added, as four of them
placed on their heads some pieces of cloth and a native basket filled
with handsome beads, which Hassan had advised us to bring in order to
propitiate Wimpai.

"They seem to consider us their prisoners," I remarked, as the savages
marched on the right and left of us, while we strode on with our rifles
shouldered.

"I don't relish the look of their knives," commented Denviers; "they are
likely to do us far more harm with them than with the clumsy matchlocks
which they now carry instead of spears. What a splendid set of fellows
they are!"

The savages who inhabited this part of Formosa, so much avoided on
account of its dangerous coral reefs, wore only a blue loin-cloth. Their
hair was adorned with a number of brightly-coloured feathers, while
across the shoulder of each passed a strip of scarlet cloth, reaching to
the waist, supporting a plaited loop, into which was thrust the
long-bladed knife which my companion mentioned. For some time the