ho had their share also of the birds. No
one had cause to complain of want of sufficient food. After dinner,
their spirits being raised, they amused themselves by playing rounders,
varied by a game of leap-frog on the beach, till Green reminded them
that they might have a couple of nights or more at sea before they could
get back to the ship, and that it was as well to take some rest while
they could obtain it. The difficulty was to find shade, as the sun was
beating down with intense heat on the sand, though while they were in
exercise they did not think of it. The palm trees afforded but a scant
shelter; however, by going a little way inland they obtained some
enormous fern-leaves, with which they quickly built several huts,
sufficient to shelter all the party, with the exception of two, who were
stationed on the top of the bank to keep watch; Green deeming it prudent
not to run any risk of being caught napping. It fell to the lot of
Archie and Tim Nolan, who belonged to Green's boat, to keep the first
watch. Green directed them to remain in the shade under the trees with
their muskets in their hands, and to keep a bright look-out inland, so
as to be able to arouse the party in good time should any natives
appear.

There was an opening in the valley just where the party were encamped,
extending an eighth of a mile or so inland, leaving the trees on either
side some distance apart. Archie took one side, and directed Tim to get
into the shade on the other, so that they might thus, without having to
step far out into the sun, command the whole of the open ground. Archie
felt very tired and sleepy, and was longing for his watch to be over,
but nevertheless, obedient to orders, he kept a bright look-out, seeing
also that Tim did the same. They had been on the watch for nearly two
hours, when Archie, as he stepped out a few paces from where he had been
standing, caught sight of three or four black figures at the farther end
of the glade. They stopped as they saw him, regarding him with looks of
astonishment, each man seizing an arrow, and fixing it in his bow.
Archie shouted to Tim, and told him to awaken the sleepers, while he
himself advanced into the centre of the glade, and while he held up his
musket in one hand to show the blacks that he was armed, made signs with
the other to them to keep back. Green had heard his voice, and was on
his feet in an instant, calling out to the rest of the party to show
themse