isit, and the curious people they were to see.

The _Empress_ was once more at sea. Passing by the north of the
Philippine Islands into the Pacific, she steered to the southward until
she sighted the Pelew Islands, about eight degrees north of the equator.
As they are surrounded by a reef, she did not stand close in. Several
well-built canoes, however, came off, manned by the dark-skinned race
who inhabit the group. They brought tropical fruits and vegetables, and
appeared eager to trade. Hills covered with trees, and fruitful valleys
with streams trickling down them, could be seen. The distance to the
shore, however, was too great to allow of a landing being made, and
further intercourse being opened up with the people.

The natives, having disposed of the cargoes of their canoes, were about
to return, when another canoe came off, having on board two black men
with frizzly heads of hair, evidently not Pelew Islanders. Having come
on board, they made signs that they wished to go to some country to the
southward. The captain on this placed a chart before them, pointing to
the islands off which the ship then was. After regarding it for some
time, one of them drew his finger along the chart until it reached the
coast of New Guinea. On a picture of a group of Papuans being then
exhibited to him he seemed at once to recognise it; indeed, on looking
at his features and then at the picture, Jack was himself convinced that
his two visitors were themselves Papuans. One of the Papuans, who had
been on board a whaler for some months and could speak a little English,
confirmed this. Jack accordingly, without hesitation, undertook to
carry the men to their native land. Their names, they informed Pat
Casey, who took to them at once and managed by some means or other to
understand what they said, were Nicho and Picho, and forthwith they were
dubbed Nick and Pipes.

Nick was a curious-looking little fellow, scarcely four feet high, but
with broad shoulders, and as strong as Hercules, his face being as
hideous as could be well imagined. Pipes was taller by a foot or more,
and was intelligent and not so desperately ill-looking as his companion,
though far from a beauty. They rapidly acquired a knowledge of English,
and Pat took great pains to teach them. They were evidently accustomed
to a ship, and he discovered that they had been brought off from their
native land by a whaler, on board which they had picked up some
kno