ne hundred each, sealed up in air-tight tin
cases, which were in turn stowed in stout wooden chests each containing
one hundred tins; consequently each chest contained ten thousand rounds.
This was a large quantity, yet not too large, I decided, considering
the uncertainties of our position; I therefore emptied a case--which,
apart from its contents, was fairly heavy to drag up on deck--carried it
up to the boat, stowed it in position, and then returned for the small
tin cases.

The transport and stowage of these occupied some time, involving several
journeys up and down between the deck and the magazine, and when I had
finished this job I was distinctly tired. Nevertheless I brought up six
Remingtons, a cutlass, a brace of automatic pistols, and a box of
cartridges for the latter, and stowed them all in the boat before
knocking off for a rest. The work had given me an appetite, and since
it was now close upon midnight, I went below and routed out a good
substantial cold meal, which I consumed while I rested. Then--why
attempt to conceal the truth?--overcome, I suppose, by my unusual and
protracted exertions, I fell asleep as I sat.

I remember that as I slept I dreamed that we were away back there at the
entrance to the Straits of Malacca, where we lost the blades of our
propeller. I felt again the shock of our collision with the supposed
wreckage to which we attributed the loss, and the start I gave awoke me.
I instantly became aware that it was blowing heavily, for the howl and
whoop of the gale came distinctly to my ears; also the wreck was rolling
heavily from side to side, and for a moment I thought she was afloat,
until her harsh grinding upon the coral reached me above the tumultuous
crying of the wind. I staggered to my feet, for I realised that matters
were becoming serious. At that instant I felt the hull lift as the
wreck heeled over, and come down again with a jar that all but jolted me
off my feet; also, unless I was greatly mistaken, I caught, among the
other sounds, the thud of water falling heavily on deck.

I made a spring for the ladder, and in a couple of seconds was out on
deck, to find myself in the midst of a living gale. Coming up out of a
lighted room, I found the night intensely dark; yet as I stood there by
the open hatchway, clinging to the main fife-rail, I presently became
dimly aware of my more immediate surroundings. As it chanced, it was
about the time of full moon, and althoug