ar ships on the
station would soon be here to call you to account."

"How'd they get the noos?" said the man, mockingly.

"In the same way that you did: the blacks would hear it."

"Let 'em," said the man, fiercely. "A black fellow's life aren't worth
much, but they think too much of it to care about chucking it away."

"The report would certainly reach headquarters, and, like the black
fellows, sir, you care too much for your life to care about chucking it
away, as you call it. Now, look here, I am not frightened by your
threats, neither do I want to quarrel."

"Same here, sonny, so let's forget what's passed and be friends," said
the man, replacing his little revolver.

"Hear me out first," said the doctor. "I am in command here, and I mean
to retain it, but I do not wish to be grasping or unfair to an
Englishman in want of necessaries out in this wild place. I will let
you have what things you require in the morning."

"Thankye," said the man, drily. "Now then, we've only just got here
after a long paddling against the currents, and the wind against us. I
want something to eat, and my boys are pretty sharp set. Where do you
keep your prog?"

"Call the men off, and tell them to camp down forward on the deck," said
the doctor. "They can have a sail for tent, and they shall have such
rations as we have ready. You would like a cabin, I suppose?"

"Well, rather," said the man, with a peculiar smile.

"We shall have a kind of supper ready soon; so call off your men at
once."

"All right; only no games."

"Treachery?" said the doctor; "I had no thought of anything of the
kind."

"Here, Black Jack, let go, and take the boys forward. No mumkull, baal,
spear, baal, nulla-nulla. Plenty much eat soon. Get out."

The man grunted, said a few words to his fellows, and they all trooped
forward and squatted on the deck.

"Beg pardon, sir," growled Bostock; "give 'em some 'bacco; there's
plenty."

"All right," said their leader; "give 'em plenty of 'bacco. That'll
keep 'em quiet for the night. Only I say, just a word of advice. Don't
try to play no tricks, for they're about as nasty as a bag o' snakes.
Rile 'em or rile me, and they'll bite. If they bite they kill, and if
they kill you three there'll be no work got out of 'em for a week.
Understand?"

"No," said the doctor, quietly.

"Then I'll tell you: they'll take you ashore, and make a fire, and cook
you."

"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Carey, deri