ow saw what had
happened, and who encouraged him with their shouts. So, none of them
knew just how, presently he found himself at the summit once more, the
others about him, all talking at once.

Rob held up his mangled hand, from which the blood was now flowing
freely. The wounds to his fingers were really serious, but he bore the
pain as bravely as he could, although his face was white.

"Anyhow, I got back," said he, shaking the blood from his hand. "I
think the best thing we can do now is to start on home. I ought to do
something for this hand as soon as possible."

They were all pale and very much frightened. All at once Rob began to
tremble, his hands and legs shaking uncontrollably. The nervous strain
having now relaxed, the full shock of terror and pain set in, as often
is seen in the cases of grown men similarly situated. It was some time
before he recovered sufficiently to be able to risk the dangerous climb
down the cliff on the inner side of the pinnacle. At last, however, they
found themselves again safely in the dory, where, of course, his
companions would not allow him to think of rowing. Progress against the
wind and sea they found now much slower, and it was almost an hour
before they reached the mouth of the creek, where Rob could land on the
beach and so walk up toward the hut. By that time his hand was badly
swollen and giving him intense pain.

The boys did not attempt to take the dory around to the landing opposite
to the hut, but left it moored at the creek mouth. They did not talk a
great deal as they returned to the barabbara at the close of their
disastrous day. The pain which Rob suffered gave them all concern. It
was Skookie once more who proved himself resourceful. Without asking
leave of any one, he crossed the lagoon on the stepping-stones and
disappeared in the thicket beyond. A few minutes later he appeared with
his hands full of coarse green leaves with slender, lance-shaped tips,
the name of which none of the boys ever knew.

"_Karosha_," he said--"all right, all right," and so proceeded to bind
these on Rob's wounded fingers. Having wrapped them in a number of the
leaves, he led Rob to the edge of the creek, and here made up a big ball
of mud, which he plastered over the entire hand.

"Now I am a pretty sight," said Rob. "I was going to wash my hands, but
maybe this will do. I have heard that natives sometimes know a thing or
two about taking care of such things."

The native