not return, and until the brig
did come back I was sure that Uncle Jack would consider it his duty to
remain on the island, whence he could communicate with her.

As we were more likely to find a spring inland than on the coast we
continued our course up the centre of the island. "We shall have to
dig, I suspect, after all, in the sago grove," said Blyth, as we at last
began our return. "However, we may as well carry some game with us; I
intend to shoot the first fine pigeon I see. You can try your luck,
although I would advise you not to fire unless you feel sure of your
aim."

In a short time Blyth, who was a good shot, killed three or four
pigeons, and I had shot a parrot and a bird of paradise, but I felt
ashamed at having deprived so beautiful a creature of life, yet
thousands were flying about unseen by human eye, which they are formed
to delight. We went on a little further, when I again fired and brought
down another parrot. Just as I pulled the trigger I caught sight
between the trees of a face watching us. At the first glance I thought
it must be some huge baboon, but still it looked human though covered
thickly with hair. I was a little in advance of Blyth. Supposing that
if not a baboon it was a savage, I was hurriedly reloading, ready to
defend myself, when a man stepping forward exclaimed--

"Who are you mates, and where do you come from?"

For a moment my astonishment at the sudden apparition prevented me from
answering. The man, however, advanced without fear. His dress, though
in tatters, was that of a seaman, fastened together by all sorts of
contrivance, while a roughly-formed palm-leaf hat covered his head.

"I heard your shots some time ago, and have been long hunting for you,
for I was sure no natives could have fired as you have done."

Without answering his inquiries, I with intense eagerness put the same
questions, "Who are you? And where do you come from?"

"I am an Englishman, who was cast away out there, and who was kept a
prisoner for many a long year by a set of savages up the country, until
about six months ago, when the captain and I got free from them and
crossed over here, where we have been ever since, hoping that some craft
would appear and take us off."

"What ship did you belong to? Who is your captain?" I asked, with
intense eagerness.

"The `Amphion,' Captain Musgrave was my captain," he answered.

"He is not, then, living?"

"Yes, he is alive, but he is