Him sure!" exclaimed Pipes at last.

"I hope it is," said Tom. "But silence, all of you, in case it should
prove an enemy who might betray our hiding-place."

It was Nick, however. He looked very much alarmed. His report, as far
as could be understood, was that the Papuans, having collected from
other villages, had taken up positions some little distance from the
coast, whence they could watch the proceedings of the white men, and
that it would be impossible to get down to the shore without being
discovered.

Tom and Desmond, on this, proposed fighting their way through. Casey
and Peter were ready enough to do so, or anything else they wished; but
Nick and Pipes objected strongly to such a proceeding, affirming that
they should be discovered and shot down were they to make the attempt.

"Wait; by-and-by mans go away!" said Pipes.

Tom, not satisfied with this, determined to go out and scout for
himself. Desmond and Billy wanted to go with him.

"One is enough to run the risk," he answered. "Two are more likely to
be observed. I will not go far, and keep well under cover."

Desmond and Billy felt very anxious while Tom was away, lest he should
fall into the hands of the Papuans.

"If they get him they will cut off his head," said Billy, "and we shall
never see him again."

"Tom knows what he is about; and unless the enemy suspect that we are in
their rear, and are looking about, there is not much risk of his being
discovered," answered Desmond.

"It would have been better to have sent one of the black fellows,"
observed Billy. "I say, Desmond, what are we to do for grub? I'm
getting very sharp set, in spite of my feelings."

"I suspect we shall get nothing to-night," answered Desmond. "If we
were to fire we should betray ourselves, and have the enemy down upon
us. Perhaps Tom will report that they have moved away, and we shall
after all be able to reach the beach. Lieutenant Norman is sure not to
go away without us."

"But he won't stop if he fancies that we are killed; and that will be
his opinion, depend upon it," said Billy, in a melancholy tone.

"Hark! I hear some one coming," said Desmond. "Keep quiet!" It proved
to be Tom, who looked unusually grave.

"I have been a considerable distance," he said, "and have had a sharp
run for it to keep ahead of the enemy. They are coming this way, and I
question whether this will prove a secure hiding-place; for, as I
watched them, they seemed