n seeing."

Chris lost no time, as soon as he could do it without being noticed,
in hurrying down to his cabin. Locking the door, he took the conch
shell from his sea chest and held it to his ear. The voice of his
friend--so far distant now!--came to his ear and Chris smiled with
the pleasure this brief link with home gave him.

"Nearly to Tahiti, eh, my lad?" came Mr. Wicker's voice. "Then listen
carefully. Ask for a private interview with the Captain, and when you
are alone with him, tell him that these are my orders: He is to sail
on past his usual anchorage, making all speed. You will know the
reason for it at sundown today. Tell Captain Blizzard to go around the
point--he will know--and continue for twelve leagues farther on. This
must be done by night, for he must not slacken. Then he will see by
moonlight a reef. The water is phosphorescent, and when it breaks over
the reef it will shine in the night. Then must he heave to, and you
will go over the side, and as a fish, find out the channel, for the
coral is dangerous and the way into the cove almost impossible to find
even by day.

[Illustration]

"The land there is like a cup with a chip in its rim; the chip is the
entrance to the cove. This entrance, overhung by slanting trees and
jungle, is just large enough to allow for the passage of the
_Mirabelle_.

"Nevertheless," went on Mr. Wicker's voice in the shell, "the masts
and the sides of the ship could be seen from the sea. So with all
haste, once anchored in the cove, the men must go ashore, bring back
palm fronds and leafy branches and camouflage--as you say in your
time--the _Mirabelle_ from her topmost mast to the water's edge.

"Let the men rest, but by midafternoon have them hide along the shore
facing the sea, for they shall all be witnesses to what is to
transpire. Then you must do your part, for you must board Claggett
Chew's ship and see to it that his vessel does not gain many days'
advantage over the _Mirabelle_. By daylight the _Mirabelle_ will find
her way safely to sea again, and you will rejoin her with the aid of
the rope." The voice paused and then enquired, "Is all this clear?"

Chris tapped three times, his heart thumping with excitement at the
prospect of the imminent action.

Going up to the Captain's cabin, he took advantage of a moment when
Mr. Finney and Amos were outside to ask Captain Blizzard if he might
speak with him alone.

"Certainly my boy," boomed out the Captain, h