the
suddenness of the tropics; but the lead was now a faithful guide, and
when it announced that the ship had arrived within four and a half
fathoms of the bottom the sails were clewed up, the anchor was let go,
and the mutineers found themselves at length in a harbour so safe that
they might laugh at the winds in their utmost fury.

An anchor watch was kept that night as a precautionary measure, because
it was not then known whether the group was inhabited or not; but
nothing occurred to alarm the watchers, the only sounds heard being
those made by the countless insects on shore or the weird cries uttered
by the nocturnal birds. Some of the sounds and cries were certainly
uncanny enough to send a creeping thrill through the frame of the
listener, but with that exception the night passed peacefully away; and
when the hands were turned up next morning to wash decks many was the
longing glance which was cast across the water to the bosky glades,
which looked so inviting in the bright sunshine.

Williams' alert eye at length took cognisance of these longing glances,
and when at length the task of washing down was completed, the buckets
and scrubbing-brushes put away, and the running-gear hauled taut and
coiled down, he summoned the men into the waist, and informed them that,
prior to beginning upon the somewhat lengthy task which he intended to
carry through before again leaving the anchorage, he proposed to have
the islands thoroughly explored and examined, the exploration to partake
somewhat of the nature of a holiday ramble ashore, when each man,
properly armed, would be at liberty to go whithersoever he would, and to
spend the day pretty much as he pleased, so long as the question of
whether the group was inhabited or not was satisfactorily settled. And
he further intimated that that same day would be devoted to the
examination; an intimation which was received with enthusiastic cheers.

Upon hearing this announcement Ned--who for reasons of his own was most
anxious to keep on fairly good terms with all hands, and especially to
so shape his conduct as to remove any suspicions against him which might
still be lurking in the minds of the mutineers--at once stepped forward
and, stating to Williams his desire to take part in the exploration,
requisitioned the dinghy for his own and Miss Stanhope's use. His
request was favourably received, and acceded to with a promptitude which
somewhat surprised him; whereupon he has