ry remarkable. His poor little
mother left the management of all her out-of-door affairs with perfect
confidence to her son. Tomeo and Buttchee also had begun to regard him
as his father's successor.

"I would advise you to do nothing," said Orley, in reply to Waroonga's
question, "beyond having all the fighting men of the village prepared
for action, and being ready at a moment's notice to receive the
strangers as friends if they choose to come as such."

"Well, then, Orley, I will be ready for them, as you tell to me, if they
comes in peace; if not, you must go and carry out your own advice, for
you is manager of all secular affairs here."

In the afternoon a large boat, full of men armed to the teeth, put off
from the side of the strange vessel, which was barque-rigged, and rowed
to the beach near the mouth of a small stream. Evidently the object of
the visit was to procure fresh water. Having posted his men in ambush,
with orders to act in strict accordance with his signals, Orlando
sauntered down alone and unarmed to the place where the sailors were
filling their water-casks.

"Is your captain here?" he asked quietly.

The men, who were seemingly a band of thorough ruffians, looked at him
in surprise, but went on filling their casks.

"I am the captain," said one, stepping up to the youth with an insolent
air.

"Indeed!" said Orlando, with a look of surprise.

"Yes, indeed, and let me tell you that we have no time to trouble
ourselves wi' you or yours; but since you've put yourself in our power,
we make you stay here till we've done watering."

"I have no intention of leaving you," replied Orley, seating himself on
a rock, with a pleasant smile.

"What d'ee say to kidnap the young buck?" suggested one of the men; "he
might be useful."

"Perhaps he might be troublesome," remarked Orlando; "but I would advise
you to finish your work here in peace, for I have a band of three
hundred men up in the bush there--not ordinary savages, let me tell you,
but men with the fear of God in their hearts, and the courage of lions
in their breasts--who would think it an easy matter to sweep you all off
the face of the earth. They are ready to act at my signal--or at my
fall--so it will be your wisdom to behave yourselves."

The quiet, almost gentle manner in which this was said, had a powerful
effect on the men. Without more words they completed the filling of the
casks, and then, re-embarking, pushed off. It w