watched the water, it seemed as if about to cover the whole level
ground, leaving only a rock here and there above the surface.

"At all events, we shall be safe till daylight, as the tide won't go
down for some hours after then," observed Dixie; "and by that time it
will be curious if Captain Crump doesn't send to look for us."

On hearing this, I proposed that we should fire off our rifles from the
summit of the tower, when probably the sound would reach him. Just as
we were about to do so, Carlos exclaimed--

"Can that be a boat coming round the point there?"

I looked in the direction he pointed. I had little doubt about the
matter. In a short time we clearly made out a boat pulling towards us.
I fired off my rifle, and we all shouted at the top of our voices. She
came on quickly, and we now saw her directing her course to the tower.
The water was perfectly smooth; she was thus able to get up close to the
base. Captain Crump himself was seated in the stern. He hailed, to
know what had happened. A few words explained this. The difficulty was
to get into the boat. Should we open the door, the water, which was of
considerable height outside, would rush in and wet us all through, if it
did not drown us. There was, fortunately, a long rope in the boat. By
means of the straps to our knapsacks, our handkerchiefs, and some pieces
of string which we mustered among us, we formed a line of sufficient
length to lower down and haul up the rope. The end of this we secured
to an iron hinge, to which a shutter had once been fixed.

Dixie, as the only sailor amongst us, offered to go first. He very
quickly descended into the boat. We followed in succession; when the
captain, standing up, cut the rope above his head.

"Now, lads, let's make the best of our way back," he said; "the tide
will soon be falling, and I have no fancy to be stranded and have to
fight a battle with Indians, or, what would be worse, find that they had
made their way on board the schooner during our absence."

We, of course, were equally anxious to get away from the dangerous
neighbourhood; and pulling the boat out through the slight surf which
broke on the shore, we were soon clear of the land.

On hearing our account, our worthy skipper congratulated us on our
escape, and blamed himself for having allowed us to go on shore.

"I ought to have warned you not to go so far, for the Indians hereabouts
are always ready to attack white men, if