blacks and two Malays. A stout white man, in a
broad-brimmed straw hat, evidently the skipper, sat in the stern sheets.
On landing, the latter, looking hard at them, and surveying their
travel-stained, tattered uniforms, inquired--

"Where in the world do you come from?"

"From the other side of New Guinea," answered Tom. He briefly narrated
their adventures. "We want to get on to Sydney, where we expect to find
our ship. Can you take us there?" he added.

"That depends on circumstances," answered the skipper. "Can you pay for
your passage?"

"We can work it, at all events, and I have no doubt that our captain
will pay any sum we agree to," said Tom.

Tom did not like either the manner or appearance of the skipper. Of
course he did not express his opinion, either by words or looks.

"Are you bound for Sydney?" inquired Tom; "for, if so, we may come to
terms."

"As to that, I should not mind putting in there, provided you will pay
the expenses. I was thinking of going further south, but I have not
quite made up my mind," was the answer. "The _Fox_ is a fine craft, and
you will not have another chance of getting to Sydney, or to any other
English port for many months to come. Few British traders touch here."

"I see several Chinese junks and Malay proas. We may have a chance of
getting to Banda, or to some Dutch port, or Singapore," said Tom,
determined not to be done, if he could help it, by the master of the
_Fox_.

"You will wish yourself on board the _Fox_ if you sail in one of those
craft, I can tell you," said the skipper. "Come, you had better close
with me, and I'll undertake to land you at Sydney. What do you say now
to 30 pounds a head, and payment for such provisions and liquors as you
consume? It will be a mighty deal better than sweltering on here in
this hot place, with a chance of being knocked on the head, or being
brought down by fever."

Tom thought the charge exorbitant, as probably no small sum would be
added for provisions. He drew Desmond and Billy aside to consult with
them. They were of opinion that the captain would certainly be
unwilling to pay so large an amount. They soon returned to where the
master of the _Fox_ was standing watching them.

"May I ask your name?" said Tom.

"Yes; it's Stubbins; I've no reason to be ashamed of it."

"Well, Captain Stubbins, we will pay you twenty pounds a-head for
ourselves, and fifteen for each of our men, besides a pound a day