"And you said nothing to me about it!" exclaimed Tartlet, lifting his
hands to the sky.

"What good should I have done?" asked Godfrey. "Besides, I thought that
the vessel had disappeared! But that boat might belong to her! Let us go
and see!"

Godfrey ran rapidly back to Will Tree, and, seizing his glass, returned
to the edge of the trees.

He then examined with extreme attention the little vessel, which would
ere then have perceived the flag on Flag Point as it fluttered in the
breeze.

The glass fell from his hands.

"Savages! Yes! They are really savages!" he exclaimed.

Tartlet felt his knees knock together, and a tremor of fright ran
through his body.

It was a vessel manned by savages which Godfrey saw approaching the
island. Built like a Polynesian canoe, she carried a large sail of woven
bamboo; an outrigger on the weather side kept her from capsizing as she
heeled down to the wind.

Godfrey easily distinguished the build of the vessel. She was a proa,
and this would indicate that Phina Island was not far from Malaysia. But
they were not Malays on board; they were half-naked blacks, and there
were about a dozen of them.

The danger of being found was thus great. Godfrey regretted that he had
hoisted the flag, which had not been seen by the ship, but would be by
these black fellows. To take it down now would be too late.

It was, in truth, very unfortunate. The savages had probably come to the
island thinking it was uninhabited, as indeed it had been before the
wreck of the _Dream_. But there was the flag, indicating the presence of
human beings on the coast! How were they to escape them if they landed?

Godfrey knew not what to do. Anyhow his immediate care must be to watch
if they set foot on the island. He could think of other things
afterwards.

With his glass at his eye he followed the proa; he saw it turn the point
of the promontory, then run along the shore and then approach the mouth
of the small stream, which, two miles up, flowed past Will Tree.

If the savages intended to paddle up the river, they would soon reach
the group of sequoias--and nothing could hinder them. Godfrey and
Tartlet ran rapidly back to their dwelling. They first of all set about
guarding them selves against surprise, and giving themselves time to
prepare their defence.

At least that is what Godfrey thought of. The ideas of the professor
took quite a different turn.

"Ah!" he exclaimed. "It is destiny! This