that he had not brought
nothing wherewith to trade. He seemed not the slightest disconcerted
by this discovery, stating that he would bring such articles as they
wished when he had learned what their requirements were.

The ubiquitous Sing was on hand during the interview, but from his
expressionless face none might guess what was passing through the
tortuous channels of his Oriental mind. The Malay had been aboard
nearly half an hour talking with von Horn when the mate, Bududreen,
came on deck, and it was Sing alone who noted the quickly concealed
flash of recognition which passed between the two Malays.

The Chinaman also saw the gleam that shot into the visitor's eye as
Virginia emerged from the cabin, but by no word or voluntary outward
sign did the man indicate that he had even noticed her. Shortly
afterward he left, promising to return with provisions the following
day. But it was to be months before they again saw him.

That evening as Sing was serving Virginia's supper he asked her if she
had recognized their visitor of the afternoon.

"Why no, Sing," she replied, "I never saw him before."

"Sh!" admonished the celestial. "No talkee so strong, wallee have ear
all same labbit."

"What do you mean, Sing?" asked the girl in a low voice. "How
perfectly weird and mysterious you are. Why you make the cold chills
run up my spine," she ended, laughing. But Sing did not return her
smile as was his custom.

"You no lememba tallee Lajah stand up wavee lite clothee in plilate
boat, ah?" he urged.

"Oh, Sing," she cried, "I do indeed! But unless you had reminded me I
should never have thought to connect him with our visitor of
today--they do look very much alike, don't they?"

"Lookeelike! Ugh, they all samee one man. Sing know. You lookee out,
Linee," which was the closest that Sing had ever been able to come to
pronouncing Virginia.

"Why should I look out? He doesn't want me," said the girl, laughingly.

"Don't you bee too damee sure 'bout lat, Linee," was Sing's inelegant
but convincing reply, as he turned toward his galley.

The following morning the party, with the exception of three Malays who
were left to guard the Ithaca, set out for the new camp. The journey
was up the bed of the small stream which emptied into the harbor, so
that although fifteen men had passed back and forth through the jungle
from the beach to the camp every day for two weeks, there was no sign
that human foot had e