s own dirty, ring-covered paw;
"as you say, he is a good man, and perhaps he can do us no harm. And
we mus' all be good comrada--eh? Come, Mr. Warner, let us all joina
the hand."

Then, after drinking together in amity, they separated.

* * * * * *

But whilst Barradas was for'ard, and Rawlings was pacing the poop, the
ear-ringed Greek came along with some of the hands to spread the after
awning. As the seamen carried the heavy canvas up the starboard poop
ladder the Greek walked up near to Captain Rawlings, who was on the
port side, and said quickly, as he pretended to busy himself with the
port boat falls--

"Both of them will have to go--eh?"

"Yes," answered Rawlings savagely, "both of them. But Barradas must go
first. We will want the other to take us to Singapore. If I could
navigate we could get rid of them both before we leave here. As for
that drunken, red-bearded pig, we'll keep him with us. Those niggers
of his will be useful to us later on--they will wipe out these cursed
Gilbert Islanders for us when the time comes. And wiped out they must
be, especially that fellow Velo and the four white men as well. They
are altogether too fond of my intelligent ass of a chief officer, and
must be got rid of."

The Greek grinned. "And I shall be the first to put my knife into the
throat of that kanaka dog, Billy Onotoa."

CHAPTER VII.

ALICE TRACEY.

The whaleboat, with Barry and five hands, skimmed fleetly over the
smooth waters of the lagoon before the lusty breeze, and three hours
after leaving the brig she was within a quarter of a mile of the shore
of a narrow little bay, embowered amidst a luxuriant grove of coco and
pandanus palms. Presently Velo, the Samoan, who was standing up in the
bows keeping a lookout, called out that he could see the houses of a
native village showing through the trees, about two or three miles away
to the right.

"And I can see three people coming along the beach, sir," he added
presently, pointing to a spot midway between the village and the little
bay for which the boat was heading.

"Well, three people can't do us any harm, Velo, so we will run into the
beach and wait for them," said Barry. "Is it clear water ahead?"

"All clear, sir--not a bit of coral to be seen anywhere, deep water
right into the beach. Fine place, sir. And look at all those
breadfruit trees--just in back a little from the coconuts."

In another five minutes