Oliver told him what had happened, and the mate caught his hand.

"And we were so much taken up by our own firing that we did not hear a sound of yours?"

"Have you beaten them off?" asked Oliver.

"Yes, they've drawn back for the time," replied the mate. "Then if you two had not helped in the defence of the brig, they would have got in?"

"I suppose so," said Oliver; "but, pray see to Mr Panton."

The request was necessary, and it was some time before he recovered sufficiently to answer when spoken to, then falling into a sleep that was broken by feverish dreams.

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

THE SCOUTING PARTY.

Mr Rimmer felt great unwillingness for anyone to leave the brig, but at the end of forty-eight hours, during which no sign whatever had been seen of the enemy, he felt that some investigations must be made to see whether they had left the island or were lurking somewhere near, in one of the patches of forest, waiting for an opportunity to take the occupants of the brig at a disadvantage.

"And we know what the consequences would be, gentlemen, if they did."

These words were spoken in the cabin where, in spite of their injuries, both Oliver and Panton eagerly took part in the little discussion.

Ever since the attack had ceased careful watch had been kept after the windows had been made thoroughly secure and no one had left the deck of the brig. But such a condition of affairs was proving terribly irksome, besides cutting off the opportunities for obtaining fresh fish and meat.

The idea which found most favour was that the enemy had gone back to their canoes and paddled away, but this had to be put to the test, and various were the plans proposed, but none seemed to possess qualities which commended themselves to the mate.

"No, gentlemen," he said, "I think my last idea will be the best; I'll start before daylight to-morrow morning and steer for the sea, so as to make out whether they have a canoe on the sh.o.r.e. If there is not one, they must have gone."

"And what is to become of us and the brig if you are unable to get back?" asked Oliver rather indignantly.

"Well," said Mr Rimmer with his eyes twinkling, "that would be rather awkward for both of us, squire, but we won't look at the worst side of the case, but at the best. I'll come back if I can."

"But I agree with Mr Lane," said Panton. "I don't want to be selfish, but there are two things against you, Mr Rimmer, you would be deserting your ship and crew as captain, and your patients as doctor. No, sir, you must not go."

"Two things against me, eh?" said the mate. "And what do you say, Mr Drew?"

"The same as my friends, sir. It is quite impossible for you to go."

"Three against me, eh? What are we to do, then; stay in this wretched state of uncertainty, unable to stir a yard from the brig?"

"No," said Drew. "I shall go. I'll take Smith and Wriggs. I'm used to those two men, and they're used to me. I'll start before daylight."

"That's good," cried his friends.

"Yes," said Mr Rimmer, "that's good, and I'll agree that it is the best thing that can be done. But you'll have to be very careful, sir, and at the least sign of danger begin to retreat. Look here, take this old boatswain's whistle, and if you are pressed in any way, blow it as soon as you are near the brig, and we'll turn out and come to your help."

"Thank you, Mr Rimmer," said Drew, cheerfully, "but I hope I shall not have to use it."

A good breakfast was ready a couple of hours before daylight, and Mr Rimmer himself called Drew up, doing everything he could to further his object, even to taking four men well armed and making a long circuit of the brig, while Drew and his two companions were partaking of a hearty meal to fit them for their task.

"Can't see any enemy, sir," Mr Rimmer said as he came back and found Drew waiting impatiently. "That's right, sir, make straight for the sh.o.r.e, and I'd go first and see whether the boat's safe before hunting to the south for the n.i.g.g.e.rs' canoe. I'd keep in the cocoa-nut grove all the way. It will shelter you all, and you'll be able to see well enough whether there's anyone in the lagoon, for that's where their canoes are sure to be."

"Then you think there's more than one?" said Oliver.

"Oh, yes, sir, I should say there are two at least. Those big outriggers that hold forty or fifty men each. There, Mr Drew, off with you, please, and don't get to fighting except as a last resource--so as to escape. I won't come with you part of the way, it's better that you should be off alone. You two lads," he continued as they reached the deck, and turned to Smith and Wriggs who were standing in the darkness very proud of the rifles with which they had been armed, "I look to you to bring Mr Drew back safely."

"Ay, ay, sir, we mean that," said Smith. "Eh, Billy?"

"Ah," came in a deep growl. "That's so."

Mr Rimmer walked to the gangway and took a long steady observation, as far as the darkness would allow. Then turning to the leader of the little expedition,--

"Off with you, sir."

_Ha! ha! Ow, ow, ow_! came from a couple of hundred yards away--a hollow, diabolical kind of mocking laugh which sent a chill through the listeners.

"Hear that, Tommy?" whispered Wriggs as he caught his companion's arm.

"Ay, mate, I heerd it. They're a laughin' at us, and it's as good as saying as they'll go and light a fire, and have it ready to cook the lot."

"Gahn!" growled Wriggs. "I know now, it's one o' them stoopid-looking Tommy soft sort o' howls, as Mr Oliver Lane shot at one day. You know, lad, them big, all of a heap sort o' things, all duffie and fluff."

Just then the cry was repeated at a distance, and soon after farther off.

"Why, it's an owl!" cried Drew.

"I thought it must be a bird," said the mate.

"Yer may well call 'em howls," said Wriggs. "That's just what they do doos."

"I hope that's what it is," whispered Smith, shaking his head. "I've heered howls often enough, Billy; but I never heered one as could laugh like that."

"Whatcher think, then, as it was one o' they blacks?"

"Ay, or, if it warn't that, one o' they hissing things as lives in the burnin' mountain. I've heerd 'em before now a pretendin' to be steam when yer went to look for 'em."

"Now, my lads, off with you!" cried the mate, and they hurried down from the side, joining Drew with arms shouldered, and a minute after they had disappeared in the darkness on their way to the sea.

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.

NATURE'S WARNINGS.

That hot sunny day pa.s.sed with Oliver Lane and Panton seated in wicker chairs, under a sail stretched out as an awning, for they both declared that they could get better out in the air sooner than in the stuffy cabin. A regular watch was kept on deck, and, in addition, a man was stationed in the main-top, where a doubly folded sail had been rigged so as to form sides, and to act as a protection in case he were seen by the enemy and made a mark for their arrows; but nothing particular occurred.

All around looked very beautiful, for nature was beginning to rapidly obliterate the devastation caused by the eruption and the earthquake wave. There was heat and there was moisture, with plenty of rich soil washed up in places, and these being three of her princ.i.p.al servants in beautifying a tropic land, they had been hard at work. Trees, whose roots had been buried in mud and sand, were putting forth green buds, the water was pretty well dried away, and in places the bare earth was showing faintly, bright patches of a tender green, while bird and insect, wonderful to see, were darting about like brilliant gems.

As the two young men sat there weak and faint, but with the happy sensation of feeling that they were, if only at the beginning, still on the road back to health and strength, it seemed to them as if the events of the night when they returned from the expedition to the volcano might have been a dream. For the blacks had scared them on that day when they were fishing, and again during the absence of part of the crew. Then they had disappeared as suddenly as they appeared, and possibly they might never come again.