arther
end of the valley, opening out on the bay. Every one was asleep, and I
was thankful that while in that condition we had not been discovered by
savages, who might have been tempted to massacre the whole of us. I was
glad that I at all events was now awake. I didn't, however, like to
arouse my companions, so I got up noiselessly, and to stretch my legs
walked through the palm-grove. On my way I found a cocoanut fallen to
the ground, and as I felt hungry, having taken off the rind, I sucked
the milk, and then breaking the shell, ate as much of the fruit as I
felt inclined to take. This restored my strength, and I went on till I
got beyond the trees, which extended to no great distance up the valley.
Farther on the ground was tolerably open, with here and there a few
trees and bushes growing by the side of a stream which ran through the
valley, and formed a small lake, without any outlet that I could
discover.

A number of birds, some of which I took to be pigeons, were flying
about, but I saw no four-legged creatures of any sort. The birds were
so tame that they came flying about me, and perched on the boughs
without showing any signs of fear.

"This is a beautiful spot," I thought to myself. "How thankful I am
that we reached it! We shall have plenty of food, and if there are no
natives we can remain as long as we like till we are all strong again,
and Mr Griffiths determines to pursue the voyage."

I was stopping, looking about, when I saw something move on the top of
the hill at the farther end of the valley. The object stopped, and then
I made out distinctly against the sky the figure of a man. He was too
far off to enable me to make out how he was dressed, or whether he was a
native or a white man. He stopped for some time, as if he was looking
down into the valley, and I fancied that he might have seen me, for I
was in an open spot, away from any trees or shrubs. At last I beckoned
to him, to show that my companions and I wished to be friends with the
natives.

He took no notice of my signals, but stood looking down into the valley
as before.

At first I thought of going towards him, but then it struck me that
others might appear, and that I might be taken prisoner, or perhaps
killed, and that I ought to go back and tell Mr Griffiths what I had
seen. I found him and the doctor awake.

"I'm sorry to hear that," said the former. "I had hoped that there were
no natives on the island. If the