left behind, pitifully and tenderly picking the sand out of their eyes,
the bold Muggins--covered with sand from head to foot, but still not
mortally wounded--advanced singlehanded against the foe--rushed at the
turtle; tripped over it; rose again; quailed for a second before the
tremendous fire; burst through it, and, finally, catching the big
creature by the rim, turned him on his back, and uttered a roar rather
than a cheer of triumph.

This was the last capture made that night. Immediately after their
victory the men returned to the boat, where they kindled an immense
bonfire and prepared to spend the night, leaving the turtles to kick
helplessly on their backs till the morning light should enable them to
load the boat and return with their prizes to the ship. Meanwhile pipes
were loaded and lit, and Doctor Will, as Old Peter called him, looked
after the wounded.

CHAPTER FOUR.

IN WHICH ANOTHER FIGHT IS RECORDED AND AN ESCAPE IS MADE, BUT WHETHER
FORTUNATE OR THE REVERSE REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

The supply of fresh meat thus secured was very acceptable to the crew of
the _Rover_, and their circumstances were further improved by the
addition of a number of fresh cocoa-nuts which were collected on the
island by Bunco, that individual being the only one on board who could
perform, with ease, the difficult feat of climbing the cocoa-nut palms.
After a couple of days spent at this island, the _Rover_ weighed anchor
and stood away for the coast of South America, which she sighted about
two weeks afterwards.

Here, one evening, they were becalmed not far from land, and Griffin
ordered a boat to be lowered, with a crew to go ashore. The captain had
been in low spirits that day, from what cause was not known, and no one
ever found out the reason, but certain it is that he was unusually
morose and gruff. He was also rather absent, and did not observe the
fact that Larry O'Hale, Muggins, and Will Osten were among the crew of
the boat. The mate observed it, however, and having a shrewd suspicion
of their intentions, ordered them to leave it.

"What said you?" asked Griffin of the mate, as he was about to go over
the side.

"I was about to change some of the crew," he replied confidentially.
"It would be as well to keep O'Hale and--"

"Oh, never mind," said Griffin roughly, "let 'em go."

The mate, of course, stepped back, and Griffin got into the boat, which
was soon on its way to the land. On nearing the sho