t three o'clock on the previous
afternoon.

But no! He was only too certain that a ship had been in sight of Phina
Island, maybe within two miles of it, and certainly she had not put in.

Of this deception Godfrey said not a word to Tartlet. What was the good
of talking about it? Besides, his frivolous mind could not see more than
twenty-four hours ahead. He was no longer thinking of the chances of
escaping from the island which might offer. He no longer imagined that
the future had great things in store for them. San Francisco was fading
out of his recollection. He had no sweetheart waiting for him, no Uncle
Will to return to. If at this end of the world he could only commence a
course of lessons on dancing, his happiness would be complete--were it
only with one pupil.

If the professor dreamt not of immediate danger, such as to compromise
his safety in this island--bare, as it was, of wild beasts and
savages--he was wrong. This very day his optimism was to be put to a
rude test.

About four o'clock in the afternoon Tartlet had gone, according to his
custom, to collect some oysters and mussels, on that part of the shore
behind Flag Point, when Godfrey saw him coming back as fast as his legs
could carry him to Will Tree. His hair stood on end round his
temples. He looked like a man in flight, who dared not turn his head to
the right or to the left.

"What is the matter?" shouted Godfrey, not without alarm, running to
meet his companion.

"There! there!" answered Tartlet, pointing with his finger towards the
narrow strip of sea visible to the north between the trees.

"But what is it?" asked Godfrey, whose first movement was to run to the
edge of the sequoias.

"A canoe!"

[Illustration: "A Canoe!" _page 181_]

"A canoe?"

"Yes! Savages! Quite a fleet of savages! Cannibals, perhaps!"

Godfrey looked in the direction pointed out.

It was not a fleet, as the distracted Tartlet had said; but he was only
mistaken about the quantity.

In fact, there was a small vessel gliding through the water, now very
calm, about half-a-mile from the coast, so as to double Flag Point.

"And why should they be cannibals?" asked Godfrey, turning towards the
professor.

"Because in Crusoe Islands," answered Tartlet, "there are always
cannibals, who arrive sooner or later."

"Is it not a boat from some merchant-ship?"

"From a ship?"

"Yes. From a steamer which passed here yesterday afternoon, in sight of
our island?"