Heave the ship to, Mr
Tarwig. Call the gig's crew away, Mr Foley, and pull in to ascertain
what he wants. There can be little doubt that it is a matter of
importance. Come off again as soon as possible, for we shall probably
find places further along the coast, where the white people are
hard-pressed by the blacks."

The commander's orders were speedily obeyed, and Norman Foley, without
the loss of a moment, followed by Gerald who was directed to accompany
him, lowered himself into the gig. He was eager to be off. Every
moment of time was precious; he had vividly realised the truth of the
commander's last remark.

"Give way, lads, give way!" he exclaimed, imparting his eagerness to the
boat's crew.

They bent lustily to their oars, and the boat shot rapidly over the blue
waters towards the sandy beach, where the white man had been seen. It
was yet impossible to discern him, however, without a glass. Mr Foley
kept his eyes fixed on the spot, hoping that he would soon again come in
sight.

"I see him, sir," cried Gerald; "he is still waving his shirt, and seems
in a desperate hurry. Perhaps he is some one who has escaped from the
blacks, and he wants us to go and help some white people attacked by
them."

"Very probably," answered Norman Foley, with a scarcely suppressed
groan.

The boat was nearing the shore.

"He is now making for the west side of the bay, towards a reef of rocks
which runs out some way into the sea," exclaimed Gerald. "He expects
that he shall reach us sooner."

"I see him," said Mr Foley; but directly afterwards Gerald exclaimed--

"He has disappeared."

"He has had, probably, to go to the inner end of the rock to climb up
it," observe the lieutenant. "I thought so," he added; "we'll pull in
and look out for a place where we can take him on board."

"He has good reason to be in a hurry," exclaimed Gerald. "See, there on
the top of the hill are a whole host of black fellows, and now they are
running down towards the sand. I suspect that they are in chase of him,
and if he does not make haste they will catch him, too."

While Gerald was speaking, a number of negroes, armed with spears headed
with long blades used for cutting the canes, and with axes and other
rudely formed weapons, were seen scampering down the hill. They
possessed apparently no firearms, however, or the fugitive's chance of
escape would have been very small. He made his way along the rough
rocks, leaping