were other signs that a severe struggle had taken place at some time or
other on board. They descended the companion ladder; at the foot were
stains of blood, traces of which were discovered on the steps. They
expected, from the odour which pervaded the whole vessel, to find some
festering body in the cabin, but no human being, either dead or alive,
was there. They discovered, however, what had evidently been the
captain's log-book, by which it was shown that the vessel was the _Ark_,
of Brisbane, Queensland, and that she had been engaged in carrying
labourers from various islands to serve as apprentices for three years
in that colony. How she had come thus far north it was impossible to
say. The last entry in the log showed that she was in the latitude of
the Caroline group; so that if she had been deserted there, she must
have drifted several hundred miles. Tom and Desmond concluded that the
blacks must have risen on the white crew, and that the latter, after
defending themselves desperately, must have been overcome, while the
former had probably swum on shore. One thing was certain, that a
terrible tragedy had been enacted on board. The dead bodies below could
tell no tales; probably they had fallen in the struggle and been left
there by their companions. Perhaps the blacks, after murdering the
crew, had steered to the northward, fancying that their own islands lay
in that direction.

"We may suppose anything we like," said Tom; "but we shall not get
nearer the truth. However, we will take care of the log, and see if
anything more can be got out of it. We will see now if the vessel
contains anything likely to be useful, and if there is, we must send and
fetch it without delay, as another gale might knock her to pieces."

Before they could further continue their search they had to come up and
take fresh air; and they then again descended into the little cabin. No
sooner had they commenced their search than they found a set of
carpenter's tools, some parcels of nails, and several other articles
which they required for repairing their boat.

"These are indeed treasures," said Tom, as he examined them. "Now, if
we can only find a cask of tar, we shall be fortunate."

"That most likely is forward, or in the hold," said Desmond.

"Ugh! I don't like having to go into the hold," said Tom; "but we must
go down, if we do not find what we want forward."

Nearly all the articles they wanted most were in the a