arkness except for one small slush lamp, and
Lilo, taking his seat on a sailor's chest, looked round at the bunks.
They were all unoccupied, and this fact increased his fears. He,
however, was a courageous lad, and his first thought was to provide
himself with some sort of weapon, and by the aid of the lamp he began
searching the bunks. In a few minutes he found a sheath knife and belt,
which he at once secured, and then again sat down to wait events.

Meanwhile Villari was speaking to the mate.

"You are quite sure you know the landing-place?" he asked.

"Course I do. Didn't I tell you I've been at Loto-fanga half a dozen
times? It's right abreast of the passage, and no one couldn't miss it
on a clear night like this. But it's dead low tide. Why can't I put the
woman and girl on the reef, and let 'em walk to the village? Then we
don't run no risks of any natives a-seein' us and coming down to the
boat."

"Ha! that's a good idea. But is it quite safe? I don't want them to meet
with any accident."

"There ain't no danger. The reef is quite flat, with no pools in it, and
they needn't even wet their feet. I've walked over it myself."

"Very well then. Now stand by, for I'm going below. As soon as they are
in the boat, push off and hurry all you can and get back. We must be out
of sight of land by daylight."

The cabin, which was lighted by a swinging lamp, was very quiet as
Villari, first removing his boots, descended softly and bent oyer the
sleeping figures of Olivee and Serena, who were lying on mats spread
upon the floor outside the two cabins occupied by their mistresses. He
touched Olivee on the shoulder, and awakened her.

"Ask Mrs. Raymond to please dress and come on deck for a few minutes,"
he said quietly to the girl in English, which she understood. She at
once rose, and tapped at her mistress's door, and the Italian returned
on deck.

Wondering what could be the reason for such a request, Mrs. Raymond
dressed herself as quickly as possible, and was soon on deck followed by
the girl Olivee.

"What is the matter, Mr. Villari?" she inquired, and then, as she looked
at the man's face, something like fear possessed her. His eyes had the
same strange expression that she had often noticed when he was looking
at Mrs. Marston, and she remembered what the German doctor had said.

"You must not be alarmed, Mrs. Raymond," he said, "but I am sorry to
say that the schooner has begun to leak in an alarming and ex