and disappeared among the pandanus thicket.

Leaning his musket against the wall, the old man poured some water
into a cup and, putting his arm round the trembling figure of the girl,
placed it to her lips.

"Here, take a drink, Em, an' then tell me what all this here means.
What's the boy been a doin', an' who's after him?"

With shaking fingers the girl raised the cup to her lips and drank;
then, with terror-filled eyes, she placed her hand upon his knee.

"Listen."

"Thar's nothin' outside, Em. What in the worl' has scared ye so, gal?"

"Don' you ask now, father. I carn' tell you now. Jes' you listen; don'
you hear people a comin'? Don' you hear people a talkin'?" she answered.

For half a minute they waited and listened, but no sound broke upon the
stillness of the island night save the ceaseless hum of the surf, and
the quick panting breaths of the girl.

"'Taint nothing, Em, on'y the surf a poundin' on the reef."

"P'raps they're all a comin' in the boat. Dad, there's a lot o'
man-o'-war men comin' for Jim. I was bathin', and I heerd 'em talkin'.
They'll kill him, dad, if they gets him. Niban, that native that Jim
gave a beatin' to onst, was showin' 'em the way here--an' I runned and
runned----"

A half-stifled shriek escaped her as she sprang to her feet.

There was a sudden rush of booted feet and the clank of steel. Then a
voice rang out--

"Keep your men close up to the back of the house, Adams."

Forcing his trembling daughter down upon her seat, the trader, placing
his pipe in his mouth, lit it, and advanced to the open door, to meet,
face to face, an officer in the uniform of the American navy.

"Stand back, sir!" and the officer pointed a pistol at the trader's
breast; but as the light of the lamp fell upon the old man's wrinkled
features and snow-white hair, he lowered his weapon to his side.

"What might your business be, sir, and why are you and your men a-comin'
inter my house at night time, an' pointin' a pistol at me?"

Then, still eyeing the officer, he stepped backward, and placed his arm
protectingly around his daughter's shoulder.

"Stay outside till I call you, Williams," said the officer, turning to a
leading seaman, who, with drawn cutlass, had followed him inside.

Then he came into the room.

"Who else have you here with you?" he began, when he stopped suddenly in
his speech, and raised his cap. "This girl is your daughter, I suppose?"

"My daughter, sir. But what is y