tation of others. I pictured her a
queen, among the whites, by reason of her wealth from the sale of her
jewels, who would doubtless have many noble suitors at her feet. Her
beauty was such as I had never seen equalled, and her imperious and
sometimes wilful ways only added to her indescribable charms.
It was now forced upon me that unless help came soon we must starve.
Our stock of fruit was almost exhausted, and scarce three quarts of
water remained in the tank. I had not been able to impress upon
Melannie the necessity for economy in our eating and drinking. She had
always been used to an abundance of simple fare, and, like a child,
lived for the hour, with no thought of the future. Van Luck had also
been in the habit of helping himself to what he wanted from our stock,
nor had I liked to interfere with him lest I might cause trouble. But
now I resolved to take a firmer stand with both my passengers.

To add to my anxieties I could see that Van Luck had been attracted by
the bag of jewels which Melannie had so imprudently displayed on the
night of our escape from the burning island. He was continually
watching it when his eyes were not employed in gazing across the sea,
and once I caught him creeping toward Melannie when she slept as if
with the intention of robbing her of the treasure. I spoke to him
roughly, and ordered him back to the fore part of the boat. He obeyed,
but his looks were so threatening that I momentarily expected him to
attack me.

I now determined to keep awake while Melannie slept in order that I
might watch Van Luck, and I impressed upon the queen that she must
never sleep when I slept. Thus we continued for some nights, keeping
watch and watch about. But I soon found I could not trust Melannie, for
when I awoke I discovered her to be asleep. But in this, as in all
else, Melannie was such a child that I could not find it in my heart to
scold her.

CHAPTER XXIV

HOW MY SECOND VOYAGE ENDED

I now resolved to place Van Luck under restraint, for it was plain to
me he was not responsible for his actions, and with this object in view
I went forward one morning with a rope in my hand, intending to secure
him in some way from harming himself and others. As I approached him
Van Luck, who seemed to divine my purpose, drew back with a savage,
animal-like growl. I tried to pacify him by speaking kindly, but he
suddenly sprang at me with a knife in his hand. I caught his arm before
he could stri