began to run out rapidly,
and the man seized the end so as to check it.

"Precious deep," said Oliver, catching at the line in turn, and in an
instant feeling a ring tighten round and cut into his wrist. "Why I've
hooked one already--a monster. Here, Smith, come and pull."

"Quick! all of you: lie down!" shouted the mate, excitedly, and he set
the example.

"What is it, what's the matter?" cried Panton.

"You're to hold me," said Oliver. "I've got hold of a whale, and it
will tug me off the rock. Help, please, it's cutting into my arm."

"Never mind the fish," cried the mate, angrily. "Don't you see? Lie
close all of you and they may pass us."

He pointed as he spoke, and the little party now saw the cause of his
excitement, for half a mile away, just coming round a point masked by a
clump of cocoa palms, was a large canoe with outrigger, upon which three
or four men were perched so as to help balance their vessel, which,
crowded with blacks, was literally racing along a short distance from
the reef, impelled by its wide-spreading matting sail.

"Friends," said Panton, excitedly.

"If we were on board our brig and at sea," said the mate, "but as a
shipwrecked party they are foes."

CHAPTER TWENTY.

STRANGE SPORT.

Those were exciting moments, especially for Oliver Lane, who, as he lay
there with arm outstretched, was very slowly and painfully dragged over
the coral rock toward the sea. Every one's attention was so taken up by
the great canoe, that for the moment he was forgotten, and, in spite of
his suffering, he felt that he must not yell out for help, for fear of
being heard. But just as his position was growing dangerous as well as
exciting, Smith saw his peril, and throwing out one hand, took a grip of
the line.

"Hadn't I better cut him adrift, sir?" he whispered, huskily.

"No, no, hold on fast," replied Oliver. "That's better. I'll hold, as
well."

For the help relieved his wrist from the strain that was cutting into
the flesh.

"Don't you leave go, sir," said Smith, hoarsely. "I can't hold him all
alone."

"Silence there!" said the mate. "Sound travels across the water."

"I don't see that it matters much," said Panton, softly. "They must see
us, for they're evidently coming straight for this opening into the
lagoon."

"I don't know," replied the mate. "If they are, they may be friendly,
but if they are not, we haven't so much as a gun with us, and these
mop-headed beg