broadly. "_Da! Karosha!_" He jabbered something to one
of his men, and the latter went down the path toward the beach.
Evidently he had supplies there, for in a few moments he returned
carrying a dirty sack in his hand. The chief took this in his hand and
grinned, addressing John.

"Salt, salt-um, salt! All light, all light, all light!" he explained,
and divided generously with the boys, giving them something which was of
great value to them.

For a time attention seemed to be diverted from the purpose of these
strange visitors, the chief making no reference to the man for whom they
were searching, but seeming to be content to sit at the fire and eat.
What might have been the result was not determined, for all at once
something happened which set them all on a run for the beach.

A man appeared at the top of the sea-wall excitedly shouting, waving his
arms, and pointing toward the sea. The others answered with loud cries,
and in a moment the space immediately about the barabbara was entirely
deserted.

XV

THE WHALE-HUNT

For a moment Rob, John, and Jesse stood looking after the natives as
they hastened toward the beach. Their first thought was one of relief
for the present at least; the prisoner in the hut remained unmolested.
Then their curiosity as to the cause of all the excitement led them to
forget everything else.

"Come on!" called Rob; and in an instant they were hurrying to join the
scene of confusion which now was enacting on the beach.

As they reached the top of the sea-wall they saw for the first time the
full party of natives, not more than half of whom had come over to the
camp. More than thirty bidarkas lay pulled up along the beach, most of
them two-hatch boats. To these boats the natives were now hastening;
indeed, some of them had already launched their bidarkas and were
paddling back and forth, as much at home on the water as on the land.
With much shouting and gesticulation, one after another bidarka joined
these, the hunter in each hurriedly casting off the lashings of his
harpoon which lay along deck.

At first the boys could see no reason for all this hurry, but as they
gazed out across the bay all at once there arose in plain sight of all a
vast black bulk which at once they knew to be a whale. The white spray
of its spouting was blown forty feet into the air as it moved slowly and
majestically onward deeper into the bay. It was plain that the natives
meant to attack this m