e
Cavendish's voice down the companion at this moment, putting an abrupt
end to the operations on the cipher.

Leaving Harry to put away the document in safety, Roger ran up on deck,
and touched his hat to his captain.

"Mr Trevose," said Cavendish, "one of the boats has just come off from
the shore with a load of fresh fruit and vegetables which the men have
collected. They have now had a short spell ashore, and it is time for
us to be thinking of work again; so I wish you to take this boat and
proceed to the shore in her with instructions to Mr Leigh to collect
all the men forthwith. Let them bring off as much fruit and vegetables
as they can find, but they must not be very long about it. You can take
your friend Edgwyth with you, if you will, and while the men are getting
fresh provisions together you and he have my leave, after you have
delivered my message, to do as you please until all are ready to come
off aboard.

"And have a care," added the skipper, "that you two lads do not get into
any further scrapes. You had a particularly narrow escape this morning,
both of you, and perchance may not get off quite so easily next time."

Roger saluted, and forthwith ran down to inform Harry of his errand;
whereupon the two mounted again to the deck and dropped into the boat,
which was waiting for them alongside, and were soon being pulled over
the water to the shore again.

Arrived at the beach, Roger enquired of the few men who were there where
Mr Leigh was to be found. None of them seemed to know, but one man
said he believed that Mr Leigh had gone in "that" direction--pointing
it out with a stubby and tarry forefinger--and had taken a musket, with
the intention, he thought, of getting some fresh meat for the pot.

The lads at once set off in the direction indicated, pushing their way
through tangled underwood, and treading down in their passage many
splendid and brilliant flowers, while startled birds, of rainbow
plumage, flew out from the branches over their heads.

Everywhere stillness reigned supreme, and no sound or sign of any of the
men was to be met with. They pushed resolutely forward, however, trying
to discover some indication of people having passed that way before. So
dense was the undergrowth in many places that Harry and Roger were
obliged to draw their swords to cut a passage through it.

Presently Roger caught sight of a beautiful orchid on the trunk of a
tree just below the first branch,