person you saw had been a white man he
would have come down to us immediately. I suspect that he must be a
native. We must look out for a visit from others, and keep a more
careful watch than heretofore."

He and the doctor agreed to return with me, and if the person was still
where I had seen him, to try and open up a friendly communication with
him and any others who might appear.

Rousing up Brown and the rest of the people, and telling them where we
were going, we set off. On our getting to the spot where I had been
when I saw the man, he had disappeared. We, however, went on past a
little lake, and along the bank of a stream, looking out very carefully
on either side lest the natives might come down from the cliffs and cut
us off. No one appeared; and as it was getting late, Mr Griffiths
thought it wise to return.

It was almost dark by the time we reached the palm-grove. We found that
Soper and Coal had in the meantime collected some more cocoanuts; and
that Brown, with the rest of the men, had obtained some large clams and
other shell-fish from the rocks. They were now lighting a fire to cook
them, while Jim had brought a kettle of water from the lake. We had
thus materials for a hearty meal, of which we all partook with good
appetites. We had been unable to do anything to the boat during the
day, but Mr Griffiths remarked that our first care must be to put her
to rights, that we might go out fishing in her, and afterwards make a
voyage to some place where we might find a vessel to take us home. The
mate said that we might either sail northward again to Guam, or westward
to the Pellew Islands, the inhabitants of which were said to be
friendly, and thence on to the Philippines. Various opinions were
expressed, but nothing was decided.

We had now to prepare for the night. Notwithstanding the sleep we had
had during the day, we all felt that a longer rest was necessary to
restore our strength. Mr Griffiths, however, insisted that a watch
should be kept, as now that we had discovered the island to be
inhabited, it would be folly to allow ourselves to be caught unawares at
night. Though the weather was warm, as we had had no time to put up a
shelter of any sort, the fire was found pleasant; we therefore agreed
not to let it go out during the night. It was settled that the doctor
should keep the first watch, Mr Griffiths the middle, and I was to have
the third with Jim. Brown kept it with the doct