arey.

"I say," said the latter, "it seems rum, doesn't it, for us three
prisoners to go off to sleep like that without minding a bit?"

"Nature will have her own way," said the doctor.

"Eh? Right, sir! I--well, look at that now! It's a rum 'un."

Bostock had suddenly awakened, and he now rose quickly and stared at
Carey.

"I say, I aren't been asleep all night, have I?"

"Yes, Bob. There, it's all right."

"Well, they haven't killed and eaten us, sir; but I don't like this.
You ought to ha' wakened me, doctor."

"I was not awake myself, Bostock."

"Oh! That was it, was it?" said the old sailor, shaking his head and
looking very serious. "Then about work, sir; what's the first thing?
Shall I see about breakfast?"

The doctor was silent for a few moments.

"Yes," he said at last. "I have thought over our position again this
morning, and it seems to me that the best thing to do, if we are
allowed, is to go on quietly and submit, until a good opportunity
occurs--say of the blacks going ashore in their canoe."

"And then seize the vessel again?" said Carey, eagerly.

"And chuck Mr King Beachcomber overboard, sir," whispered Bostock.

"Or make him prisoner till we can hand him over to the authorities,"
said the doctor.

"But there are no authorities to hand him over to, sir," said Carey.

"Have patience, my lad; we never know what may happen. We had a piece
of bad luck last night; to-day we may have a bit of good. Yes, we'll go
on as usual. See to the breakfast."

"Right, sir," cried the old sailor, and he turned the handle of the door
without effect.

"Locked?" said Carey, in a hoarse whisper.

"Can't say, sir, but it's made fast somehow."

To the surprise of all, though, the door was opened the next moment, and
their captor stood before them, looking from one to the other, while at
a glance Carey saw that the blacks had disappeared.

"Come out of that," growled the ruffian, sourly. "I want some
breakfast; and you, sailor chap, get out rations of beef or pork for my
pack. They'll be hungry again by this time. Light the fire first, and
let's have some tea soon."

Carey involuntarily glanced at the bottle on the table, and saw that it
was empty. He saw, too, that his glance was noticed, for the
beachcomber said with a hoarse laugh:

"Oh, yes, I drink tea too. But put another bottle of that stuff on the
table as well."

They passed out into the saloon, and Carey made at once for t