lled. Captain Trigger having protested against the dismantling of the
vessel and the confiscation of its cargo,--which was as far as he could
go,--announced that he would abide by any satisfactory plan to salvage
the property. He required an official, documentary report, however, in
which every item removed was accounted for, with its condition and value
set down and sworn to by responsible persons. The purser, Mr. Codge, and
First Officer Mott represented the Captain in this operation, while the
consignees were properly taken care of by Michael O'Malley Malone,
the lawyer, James K. Jones, the promoter, and Moses Block, the rubber
importer. It is unnecessary to deal further with this feature of
the situation. Suffice it to say, the transaction,--if it may be so
denoted,--was managed with the utmost regularity and formality. Elderly
men and women were chosen for the clerical work which this rather
laborious undertaking entailed.

On the crest of the loftiest hill there was established a permanent
observation and signal station. Near the top a sort of combination
dug-out and shanty was constructed by order of Captain Trigger, and
day and night, week in and week out, watches were kept similar to those
maintained on board ship.

While the entire company, high and low, worked with a zeal that
eventually resulted in a state of good-natured though intense rivalry
in skill and accomplishment,--while they were generally cheerful and
courageous,--there was a profound lack of gaiety. In the eyes of each
and every one of them lay the never-vanishing shadow of anxiety,--an
eternal unspoken question. The hardest, fiercest faces wore a wistful
expression; the broadest smile revealed a touch of sadness. Over all,
however, the surpassing spirit of kindness and generosity presided.

Calamity had softened the hearts in the same crucible that hardened the
hands. The arrogance of the strong mellowed into consideration for the
weak; wisdom and culture went hand in hand with ignorance and brawn;
malice and rancour left the hearts of the lowly and met half-way the
departing insolence of the lofty; fellowship took root and throve in a
field rich with good deeds. The heart of man was master here, the brain
its humble servant.

Landover worked hard, doggedly. To all outward appearances, he had
resigned himself to the inevitable. He affected a spirit of camaraderie
and good humour that deceived many. Down in his heart, however, he
was bitterly