tell us in a
few words what this all means."

Ali rapidly told him of his belief, and the lieutenant frowned.

"Certainly there is confirmation of what you say, sir," he said sternly,
"but the story sounds wild and strange."

He gazed suspiciously at the young chief; but Ali did not blench in the
slightest degree.

Just then the firing seemed to become furious on the island, and the
lieutenant stamped his foot impatiently.

"How long is this steam going to be?" he cried. "How I hate being tied
by the leg like this, Roberts."

"It's horrible, sir!" cried Roberts, who was stamping up and down the
deck, when he was not trying to make out what was going on upon the
island, by means of a small glass. "Let's do something, sir, or the
people there will think we are not going to help them."

"What can we do, lieutenant," said the other, "except send a boat?"

"Let's fire a big gun, captain," said Bob; "that'll let 'em know we are
all alive; and then send the boat. I'll be very careful, sir."

The lieutenant hesitated as he watched the island through his glass, and
could see the flashes of the pieces as they were fired. In a short time
steam would be up, and the vessel could pass right round the island and
engage the prahus, if there were any attacking. Besides, he was very
loth to reduce his already short ship's company.

"If it were not already so confoundedly dark," he exclaimed, "we could
see what to do. Ah! at last, there goes the signal."

For just then there was a rushing noise, and a rocket went up from the
island, far into the blackness of the night, burst, and the bright blue
stars fell slowly, lighting up the palms and fruit-trees upon the
island.

"Ready there with a rocket," exclaimed the lieutenant. "Be smart, Mr
Roberts."

"Ay, ay, sir," was the reply; and, with a mighty rush, away on high sped
the answering signal, to burst and fill the air above them with lambent
light.

"That is better than your big gun, Roberts," said the lieutenant.

"No, sir, I don't think it is," said Bob, "for it won't frighten the
niggers, and my gun would."

The night seemed to have come on darker than ever, and the rocket stars
shone with wonderful brilliancy as they descended lower, and lower, and
lower, some even to reach the water before they went out, and just as
the last was floating down, Ali, who was close to the two officers,
suddenly started, grasped Bob's arm, and exclaimed sharply,--

"Prahus!"