"Better let that wait, sir," said the quartermaster. "It ain't best to
be in too much hurry, Cap'n. When you've gone ashore, after that there
huntin' trip, sir, then's the time to trade for such stuff. Wait till
they know as they're goin' to lose you, and you'll get bargains."

The wisdom of this was quite evident, so Captain Hollinger nodded. Then
the quartermaster turned to the headman and spoke for some moments at
length, after which he announced that he was going ashore and would
return to report to the captain in the morning. He said it would be
necessary to consult men from other villages as to where tigers might be
found, as well as to arrange for beaters and a party of hunters, but
that all would be arranged that night or in the morning.

With this, Jerry went below, got some of his things together in a
duffle-bag, and went over the ladder into the fishing-prau, with a
farewell wave of the hand at the boys and his other shipmates. The
Malays put out their long oars, shouted a farewell to which the crew
responded with cheers, and the dozen boats swept back toward the river.

"Well, we've got a pretty good crew now!" laughed the captain looking
around at the decks. Their duties being over for the time being, the
engine-room crew had come on deck, fraternizing with their brother
Kanakas, and everyone, from old Borden to Mart and Bob, was busy stowing
away fresh fruit, of which the supply was bountiful.

The boys examined Bob's silver-inlaid kris, with its carven handle of
bone, and it was indeed a trophy worth carrying home. At mess that
evening Bob's father announced his desire to take Joe Swanson with him
on his initial hunting-trip, at which the burly mate was no little
astonished.

"Well," he said, with a slow grin, "I'm not much on shootin', Cap'n, but
I'll be mortal glad to stretch my legs ashore. Who'll take charge o' the
ship?"

"Well," smiled the captain, "I'll leave the boys in charge, with Jerry.
The quartermaster is capable, and he's going to start diving operations
up the river. I want to see what things are like in the jungle before
I'll take the boys hunting, as it's apt to be pretty dangerous."

"I dunno, sir," and Swanson frowned, staring at his plate. "I've heard a
good bit about Jerry, and I wouldn't leave him--"

"Oh, nonsense!" Captain Hollinger laughed out, and the boys remembered
the mate's protest before the voyage began that Jerry was "unlucky."
"I've heard about his piratical te