rs they ought to be as good as they are
at home. I believe the natives catch them by spearing them by
torch-light, and in that case they ought to be good-sized fellows." The
men after the first start had dropped into a long, steady stroke, and as
the boat glided along past bay and headland no one paid any attention to
time, until the mate, looking at his watch, said:

"Faith, we have been gone an hour and a half; I clean forgot all about
time. I think we had better be turning. It will be dinner-time before we
reach the ship as it is." The boat's head was turned. "I think," the
mate went on, "we may as well steer from headland to headland, instead
of keeping round the bays. It will save a good bit of distance, and the
natives evidently do not mean to show themselves."

"They are very provoking," Miss Mitford said. "I can see smoke among the
trees over there, and I have no doubt that they are watching us although
we cannot see them."

"You ought to have waved your handkerchief as we came along, Miss
Mitford," James Allen remarked; "or to have stood up and shown
yourselves. They would no doubt have come off then and offered presents
in token of admiration."

The girls laughed. "I do not suppose they would appreciate our charms,"
Miss Mitford said. "They are not in their line, you see."

"That they certainly are not, Miss Mitford," the mate laughed. "I saw
some of them the last time I came through here, and hideous-looking
creatures they are, and wear no clothes to speak of."

So laughing and chatting with their eyes fixed on the shore the party
never looked seaward, until a sudden exclamation from the mate called
their attention to that direction.

"Be Jabers!" he exclaimed, "here is a sea-fog rolling down on us from
the south!"

They looked and saw what seemed like a wall of white smoke rolling along
the water towards them. At this moment the boat was about half-way
between two headlands, which were a mile and a half apart, and the shore
abreast of it was three-quarters of a mile distant. The sun was shining
brightly upon the rolling mist, and the girls uttered an exclamation of
admiration.

"How fast it comes!" Marion said. "Why, it will be here directly!"

The mate put the tiller a-starboard. "Row, men!" he said in a sharp
voice; for they had for a moment ceased to pull.

"Have you a compass?" Mr. Atherton asked in low tones.

The mate shook his head. "I am no better than an idiot to have come
without one