t! an orang-outang?"

Mark nodded.

"Well, if it is, we shall have to tame him. My word, he must have a
fine broad chest, Mark, and he has a wonderful voice for a song. There,
I don't think we are in any danger for the present, and it must be
nearly the end of our watch by the look of the sun. Here comes the
captain."

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

HOW BILLY WIDGEON WAS DAMPED.

Mark turned sharply, to see that his father was approaching, and his
first words were concerning the time.

"It must be beyond your watch, major," he said. "Why didn't you wake
me?"

"Well, the fact is, we've had a scare," said the major; and he related
their experience.

"It's strange," said the captain; "but we are well armed. It may be, as
Mark says, some kind of monkey. They can make atrocious noises. How
are the sick men?"

"Sleeping beautifully," said the major. "And you?"

"Far better; that little sleep has worked wonders. I'll go and rouse up
Small."

"No; let the poor fellow sleep," said the major. "I don't want to lie
down. Do you, Mark?"

"No; I couldn't sleep with that noise so near," said Mark. "I should
like to stay. But wouldn't it be best to get the boat launched again in
case there is any very great danger?"

"It would not take long to launch that," said his father. "If we are
not molested for the night we will begin exploring to-morrow. This
evening we must try and rig up a shed for the women. To-morrow we shall
be better able to think what we can do."

The captain looked at the two wounded men, who seemed to be sleeping now
more easily, and then taking his gun he proposed to the major that they
should make a little search round their resting-place to see what was
the cause of the noise they had heard.

This meant leaving Mark alone, and he looked up so ruefully at the
major, that, recollecting his own qualms, the latter objected to the
plan.

"No, no, Strong," he said; "if there is any danger let it come to us, I
don't see any use in going to meet it."

"As you will," said the captain quietly. "What we seem to want now is
rest and strength. Oh, here is one of the men!"

Bruff and the monkey drew their attention to him by going toward the
place where the men were sleeping, Bruff limping, but wagging his bushy
tail, and the monkey cantering towards his old friend Billy with plenty
of low chattering and sputtering noises.

This awoke Small, who rose and came out of the grove to walk slowl