BY THE SKIN OF THEIR TEETH.

"Murder!" said Wriggs, in a low voice.

"That there will be, Billy, if them chaps don't let us alone. Look here, mate, it aren't their island; they lives somewheres else, or they wouldn't want a boat--bah! I don't call them holler logs boats--to get here. Who are they, I should like to know? Just a-cause we're ash.o.r.e, and can't get our ship afloat they think they're going to do just what they please with us. But we've got guns, Billy, and we know how to use 'em, mate, and if they think as they're going to collar off all there is aboard the _Planet_, they're jolly well out of their reckoning, eh, Billy?"

Smith had by this time shifted himself to his messmate's side and was looking at him earnestly, but Wriggs did not stir, he only rested his chin upon his hands and stared hard at the two canoes.

"Now, then, d'yer hear what I said?"

Wriggs gave a short nod.

"Well, say something, then. What'cher thinking about?"

"I was a thinking, Tommy, as it warn't no use for you to go on talking, when we ought to be toddlin' back and telling the three gents as we're in a mess."

"Well, there is something in that, Billy. What d'yer say, then, shall we run and tell 'em?"

"No, Tommy; if we gets up and begins to run, them crystal minstrel chaps'll see us, and come arter us like hooray. We oughter congeal ourselves back again."

"How are we to, when there aren't no trees to congeal behind?"

"This how," said Wriggs. "I'm off. You foller arter me same way."

As soon as he had done speaking, he laid his gun close down by his side and began to roll himself over and over with such rapidity that he was some yards away before Smith thought of imitating his action.

"Well, this here is a rum 'un," he grumbled. "I never thought when I come to sea as I should have to turn myself into a garden roller. But one never knows!"

He began rolling himself as fast as he could after Wriggs, and at last, after they both had to correct several divergences from their proper course, they approached the two friends, who were seated beneath a tree.

"Look, Panton!" cried Drew, excitedly.

"What at?"

"Those two fellows. They must have found and been eating some poisonous kind of berry. They've gone mad."

"More likely been breathing some bad volcanic gas. Here, I say, you two, what's the matter with you?" he cried, as Wriggs rolled close up to him, and stopped to lie with his mouth open, staring, but too giddy to speak.

"I thought so," said Drew. "We must get them back to the ship and give them something."

At that moment Smith rolled up, and lay giddy and staring.

"Here, you two: can't you speak? What's the matter with you?"

Wriggs pointed at Smith, as much as to say, "Ask him," and when the friends looked in his direction, Smith nodded at Wriggs.

"We must get back," cried Panton. "Ahoy-y-y-y! Lane! Ahoy-y-y-y-y!"

he shouted.

"Don't, sir! don't!" cried Wriggs, in a choking voice.

"Why not?" cried Drew. "What's the matter with you? Here, try and get up."

"No, no, sir," they cried in duet.

"Then, what is it?"

"n.i.g.g.e.rs, sir," gasped Smith. "Comin' ash.o.r.e!"

"Quick, close under cover!" said Panton, and all crawled under the shade of the nearest tree.

"Now, where are they?" said Panton.

"You can't see 'em from here, sir, but we saw the whole lot on 'em in two canoes, a comin' on like steam, and they'll be here afore many minutes have gone."

"Quick, then!" cried Panton. "Here, you are best at it, Smith. Hail Mr Lane as loudly as you can."

The man stared at him.

"Hail him, sir, with that there lot o' black ruffyians just landing!

Why, it's saying to 'em, 'Here we are, my lads; come an' catch us.'"

"Of course! You are right," cried Panton, excitedly, as he stood wiping his face. "But what are we to do?"

"Two of us must try and track him," said Drew. "Do you think they heard me shouting before?"

"Dunno, sir. On'y hope as they didn't, that's all, sir," said Wriggs.

"Perhaps they did not," said Drew, hurriedly. "But look here, Lane can't have gone far, he was too weak to make much of a journey. Here, Wriggs, come with me. You two keep quite close in hiding."

At that moment from one of the trees at the edge of the forest, there rang out the hoa.r.s.e, cawing cry of one of the paradise birds, and directly after they saw that a little flock had taken flight, and were crossing the open land to make for the forest, far away toward the slope of the mountain.

A sudden thought inspired Drew, and signing to his companions, he put his hands close to his lips and gave vent to a very fair imitation of the bird's note. In fact, so close was it, that they saw a couple of birds in the little flock wheel round and come back over their heads, till evidently detecting that it was a deceit, they flew off again.

"There; what's the good of that, man?" cried Panton, angrily. "You couldn't deceive them."

"No, but I may trick poor Lane. He'll think it is some of the birds, and come back eagerly to try and shoot one."

"Bah!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Panton; but Drew took no heed of his impatient, angry manner. Putting his hands to his mouth again, he produced a capital imitation of the bird's call note, and then stood listening.

There was no rustling of the undergrowth, though, nor sign of an eager white face peering out of the dim twilight among the great shadowy tree-trunks, but a noise arose from the distance, which sent a thrill through every one present, and made all strain their ears in the direction of the sh.o.r.e, for it was the murmur of a crowd.

It was a strange, awe-inspiring sound, suggesting a horrible death at the hands of merciless savages, and, acting under one impulse, the two sailors glanced at Panton, and Drew saw plainly enough their startled look of horror, as they turned and ran as hard as they could go back along the edge of the forest toward the brig.

"The cowardly hounds!" said Panton, between his teeth, and he involuntarily c.o.c.ked his gun. "I could find it in my heart to send a charge of shot after them."

"Let them go," cried Drew, bitterly. "We must hide here in the forest.

They will warn Mr Rimmer, and perhaps it's best."

He finished his speech with the loud _wok, wok, wawk_ again.