ll, and I'll spit on my hands and haul like a man."

"Yes, yes, I know you will," said the doctor. "As to that old
beachcomber, sir, shooting aren't in my way, but 'volvers or no
'volvers, you give the word when you're ready and I'll chuck him
overboard to get some water to mix with his rum; and I believe that'd be
doing a good action."

"Yes," said the doctor. "Look here. That man can't go on drinking
strong spirit as he does without soon being quite prostrate."

Bostock looked at the speaker with an expression of disgust and contempt
upon his face.

"I What, sir? Do you think that old rough would ever drink enough rum
to make him stupid?"

"Of course."

"Never, sir. He just about lives on it. Bound to say he's gone on for
a score o' years. Didn't you see as he only nibbled a biscuit?"

"Yes, I noticed that," said Carey, quickly.

"Yes, sir. Rum won't have no more effect on him than tea would on you
and me. You try another idea, sir. What do you say to frightening them
black fellows overboard? They're a rum lot; just like a pack o'
children. Frightened o' bogies. Show 'em a good scarecrow or tatty
dooly, as the Scotch folk call it, and they'd think it was what they
call a bunyip."

"What's a bunyip?"

"What they calls a debble-debble, sir. They're awful babies in anything
they can't understand. You must give 'em some red fire, or blue fire,
or 'lectricity."

"Wait, wait, wait," said the doctor, impatiently. "We must temporise.
It is no use to try and do anything in haste. The first thing we have
to find out is whether that ruffian goes off to sleep or keeps watch."

Carey pointed to the ventilator over the door.

"I could see through that," he whispered, "if you could take me on your
shoulders."

Bostock nodded, and placed his hands firmly on the sides of the door,
bending down his head and standing as firm as a rock, while Carey's
first instinct was to take a run and a jump; but he did not, for one
reason, there was not room, another, that it would have been folly; but
he placed his hand upon the man's shoulders and steadily climbed up till
he could stand stooping upon his back, and then he cautiously peered
through a little crack, and the first thing he saw was the beachcomber
sitting back fast asleep.

This sent a thrill of satisfaction through him, and he turned his eyes
towards the saloon door, and a chill of horror ran through him, for he
caught sight of something bright and f