ned to devote the day to a continuation of the
search.

The base of Castle-Hill was skirted on the left and divided from the
neighbouring forest by a deep gully, that had much the appearance of a
dried-up water-course, and was probably a channel by which, in the rainy
season, the water from the higher ground was conveyed to the sea. From
the hill we could trace the course of the ravine, until it struck the
beach, near the point where the small grove, before spoken of, seemed to
spring up out of the lagoon. Our last evening's ramble along the shore
had extended nearly to this spot and to avoid going over the same ground
a second time, we struck into the ravine, and followed its course as it
descended towards the beach.

Johnny every now and then, without any apparent object, unless to evince
his entire superiority to any feeling of timidity, separated himself
from the rest and disappeared for a time in the forest, generally
returning with a specimen of some new plant or flower, or an account of
some strange bird, or curious tree, which he had seen. From one of
these adventurous excursions, he came rushing back; closely followed by
Eiulo, both looking a good deal frightened, and, as soon as he had
recovered breath sufficiently to be able to speak, he earnestly affirmed
that he had heard a man call out to him in the wood. His statement was
strange enough; he had found a twining plant, with a flower like a
morning glory, and called loudly for Eiulo, who was a little way off, to
come and see if it was the patara vine. The root of this plant is a
valuable and nutritious esculent, and Arthur had described the leaf and
flower to us, in order that we might recognise it if met with.
Immediately a harsh voice issued from a neighbouring thicket, uttering
some words which he did not distinctly understand, but they were in
French, and were something about Napoleon.

"In French!--and about Napoleon!" cried Arthur, in amazement. "Are you
quite sure, Johnny, that you heard any words at all;--any thing more
than a strange noise of some kind?"

But Johnny was positive;--he had heard the "Napoleon," as plainly as he
ever heard any thing. There were only a few words--not more than two or
three, but they were spoken very distinctly, and quite loud, as if the
person were cheering; he could not be mistaken.

"Only two or three words," pursued Arthur, "would you know them again if
you should hear them repeated?"

"Yes, I think I s