wn.

The moment we emerged from the scrub out upon the eastern shore, we
obtained a splendid view of the opposite coast of the great island,
though the actual shore was not visible on account of the extreme
lowness of the belt of littoral, which was many miles in width; but by
climbing a tree we could just discern the long, dark line of palms, and
here and there a narrow strip of white, denoting either surf or a sandy
beach.

"Why," I said to Yorke, "that land cannot be more than five miles
distant to its nearest point, and if there are niggers living there we
should see their fires to-night, and----"

The next moment I uttered a loud hurrah! and nearly fell off the tree
in my excitement, for away on the northern horizon was a sail, shining
snowy-white in the rays of the sinking sun!

Yorke echoed my cheer. "A day sooner than I prophesied, Drake! Wish we
had a glass, so that we could make out which it is. I am rather inclined
to think it is the _Fray Bentos_ it looks too big for the cutter.
Anyway, whichever it is, she's becalmed; but even if there is not a
breath of wind during the night, she'll be closer in in the morning, as
the current is bound to set her along this way."

We descended from the tree jubilantly, and I suggested that we should
make a big blaze on the eastern shore, so as to let the ship know we saw
her, but the more cautious Yorke said it would be rather risky. Natives,
he said, might be quite near at that moment, a party of canoes could
have easily crossed over during the day, and we should be none the wiser
unless we happened to see the reflections of their fires, after they had
arrived, on the lagoon waters. So, after waiting another ten minutes,
when the sun set, we returned to camp.

"Let us kill the fatted calf and divide it between us," said my
companion, taking our plug of tobacco and cutting it in halves; "I'm
going to smoke all night, or at any rate until I fall asleep. Did
you see how the sun set? Well, that thick, yellow haze means a calm
to-morrow, to a dead certainty, and I shouldn't be a bit surprised if we
see Guest pulling into the lagoon at daylight, that is, if he has a boat
left."

I do not think either of us slept for more than a quarter of an hour
that night. That Yorke could have done so, I do not doubt, but I would
persist in talking, getting up, walking about, and smoking, and he,
good-naturedly, kept awake on my account. The night was wondrously calm
and beautiful, s