Year: 1879

though the Irishman declared that the
boat had been carried well up inland,
and that the men were secured, though,
as yet, their lives were as safe as ours.
He talked with me through chink in
the door, and he admitted, now, that
their object was to get large quantity
of tobacco from the ship, as ransom for
us, more than they could obtain by the
sale of the fluke-chains and other arti-
clees, which 1 had promised to pur-
chase.


After time, as 1t grew dark, / told
him L did not care to talk any more, but
would like to be left to get some rest.
He went away, and for time all was
still, and no person was to be seen NOV
ing in the neighborhood, except few
guards, who were SO posted as to COM
mand view of all sides of the building
They did not venture to approach very
near, and, for the most part, managed to
dodge in range of cocoanut trees; but
they were vigilant, and any movement
of ours would at once be seen and re-
ported


There was, of course, no rest for us
inside the house; for sleep, under such
circumstances, was the farthest thing
from our thoughts. We kept both sight
and hearing upon the strain; for not
withstanding the story of Barney about
their intention to demand ransom for
us, the caprice of savages was not to be
depended upon from one minute to an
other. / had reason to fear surprise,
and believed Barney himsef to be
greater scoundrel than any of the rest,
while, at the same time, he lacked the
courage to attack us openly while we
stood with our guns aimed at him.


The events soon proved that was not
wrong in this opinion. AS the night
advanced, and all remained quiet in the
house, we observed that the savages
were collecting in numbers at various
points among the cocoanut.trees, as if
with the intention of surprising us by a
simultaneous advance upon different
sides of the house. This was done very
quietly; not by any sudden rally, but
the number of each group seemed gradu-
ally to increase, and to form a larger
black mass, as if reinforcements were
slowly but steadily being sent to
each post, where only guard or two
had been at first stationed.


By-and-by, all was motionless again,
and the dark bodies of men appeared as
if they were inanimate fixtures. Then
a single man came briskly toward the
house, and had no difficulty in detect
ing the beach-comber," even at con-
siderable distance. He was naked, with
the exception of the marc about his
loins, like the natives; but his walk,
which he could not disguise, betrayed
him. His heart and his habits might
be assimilated to those of the Gilbert
Islanders but his legs were as Irish now
as ever.


We preserved perfect silence, while
Barney came nearer and nearer, ventur-
ing, after while, to apply his ear to
the chink in the door. But no sound
could he hear, save musical imitation
of snoring, which we all made, as had
been previously agreed upon. He con-
tinued for little time listening, as if
he were surprised, as well he might be,
to find us all off our guard. He had ex :
| pected, no doubt, to discover us uneasy
and inquisitive, and to hold another
lying parley with us; but, apparently
satisfied at last that we were indeed COM
pleteiy at his mercy, he tripped silently
away.


We had no doubt, now, that the at
tack would be ordered at once; and it
was well understood that, if such were
the case, the Irishman was to be the
first victim of our fire. With all our
senses upon the strain, we awaited the
onset, which we felt must decide our
fate in few minutes. 1 directed the
boat-steerer, who was the best marks
man of the party, to make sure thing
of his aim at Barney, feeling that our
salvation depended much upon killing
him at the outset Concluded next
week.


g8 This, dear children, is the shoe
of Chinese lady. See how little it is
r nTr