sively.

The next moment the man's hand closed tight upon the boy's shoulder,
holding him fast.

"You don't believe it, eh?"

"No," said Carey, boldly; "not a word of it, and don't grip my shoulder
like that--it hurts."

"Meant it to, puppy," growled the man, menacingly. "D'ye hear? Cook
you and eat you, and they'll begin on you, because you're young and
tender; and they'll go on eating you till they're as dizzy as drunken
men. Then they'll go to sleep, and wake up again, and go on cooking and
eating till they can't see, and keep on till they've finished you all."

"Find me pretty tough," growled Bostock.

"Not they," cried the man. "You'd be tender by the time they got to
you. They don't mind how long it is first. Don't believe it, eh?"

"No," said Carey, setting his teeth hard to master the pain he felt.
"It's a silly story about cannibalism to frighten me."

"Think so?" said the man. "All right. Here, Black Jack!" he roared.

The leading black snatched up spear and club and bounded to the speaker
with wonderful alacrity, his eyes flashing, and he looked from one to
the other as if expecting orders to slay.

"Ask him," growled his leader.

Carey was turning faint with pain, and the doctor saw it and stepped
forward.

"Take hold of his arm," he said to their captor; "the boy has had his
collar-bone broken."

As he spoke he removed the great coarse hand to the boy's fore-arm, and
Carey uttered a sigh of relief. Then, turning to the fierce-looking
savage, he said quickly, "Here, you blackie."

"Not Blackie; Black Jack."

"Well, Black Jack, what do you do with your prisoners?"

The fierce look died into a broad grin, and he showed his white teeth.

"Make fire; eatum," he said, promptly. "Make big feast."

"Go back!" growled the so-called king.

"No. Mumkull; kill, eatum."

"Not now. Be off."

The black darted back to his companions, and the beachcomber turned to
Carey.

"Want some more proof?" he said.

Carey was silent.

"Here, you," said the man, turning to Bostock. "Been in these parts
before?"

"Lots o' times," said the old sailor.

"Tell him, then."

"Is it true, Bob?"

"Yes, my lad, it's true enough," said Bostock. "They eat their
prisoners, their old folks, and the babies and wives, too, when
starvation times come."

"What, do you mean to tell me that such things go on out here in
Australia and the islands--now?"

"It's true enough, Carey," said the doctor, gr