lly out of sight;
but the terms were so good that Brazzier answered, the instant the
question was put to him:

"We'll do it, and carry out our part fair and square."

"Very well; there's no need of delay. We'll bring the schooner inshore
and take out what we want, and then turn the craft over to you."

This amazing programme was carried out to the letter. Captain and
mate, accompanied by Pomp, rowed back in the small boat, and the
schooner was carefully worked toward the shore.

Abe Storms and Captain Bergen saw that among the possibilities of the
future was a long stay on the lonely island, and they therefore
prepared for such a contingency, having an eye mainly to securing
that which little Inez would be likely to need. Pomp informed the
officers that there was a small cabin a short distance away, which had
no doubt been put up by the sailors of whom Grebbens had told the
captain. It was made of planking that had come ashore from the wreck,
and the fact that it had stood so long proved that it must have been
built with much skill as well as strength.

It was found just as represented by Pomp--there being two compartments,
each a dozen feet or so square, and one of these was so well put
together that it seemed to be waterproof. Our friends were greatly
surprised and pleased over the discovery, for Grebbens had never said
anything about the structure.

The goods from the _Coral_ were carried to this building and deposited
in the rear room, which was so tight that one would have almost
suffocated had he remained in it during the tropical weather which
prevails among the Paumotu Islands most of the time.

The goods stowed there were of a varied assortment, including the
three breech-loading rifles, ammunition, tool-chest and contents, a
portion of the medicine-chest, some biscuits, cooking utensils, and a
trunk of calicoes, linens and materials such as are used in the making
of feminine costumes. It was a singular coincidence that Abe Storms
had provided a considerable quantity of this before leaving San
Francisco, knowing as he did the fondness of savages for such finery,
and having a suspicion that it might be turned to good account in the
way of barter in some of the South Sea islands. Little did he suspect
the use to which it would be put, and thankful indeed was he that it
was at his command, when it was so likely to be needed for Inez
Hawthorne.

There was a goodly amount of stock, which was transferred to