nswered Jerry Bird in a mournful tone. "Not a glimpse of
them. I have been listening in case they should fire, but I have not
heard a shot from the direction I've an idea they took."

"Give way, then, lads," said the lieutenant, putting the boat's head
round; the other following his example, they pulled back to the ship.

The sound of the firing having been heard, the captain had just ordered
three boats to be got ready, and a party of marines and blue-jackets
well armed to go in and help their shipmates, when the boats were seen
coming off. As it was supposed that all had returned in them, the order
was countermanded. On hearing from Mr Norman what had occurred, the
boats were immediately ordered off, the captain himself taking command,
the third lieutenant and the senior mate having charge of the other
boats, with two or three other midshipmen and master's assistants, who
were all eager to recover their lost messmates.

No one would believe that they had been actually cut off, and fully
expected to find them either defending themselves in some strong
position, or on the beach, having cut their way through their enemies.
The boats drew near the shore, but no natives were to be seen, nor were
the missing party. On landing, Jack ordered the marines to form, and
threw out skirmishers in front and on either side, to feel the way,
fully expecting every moment to come in sight of a large body of the
natives. Still on they went, but no one appeared. On getting to the
foot of the knoll from which Lieutenant Norman had obtained a view of
the country round, the captain and a party of men climbed up to the
summit. Not a native was to be seen. In vain Jack turned his glass in
every direction, hoping to see his brother's party. No human being was
visible, not even among the huts in the distance which Lieutenant Norman
had discovered. To be sure, there might be natives close to them, yet
concealed by the dense growth of the trees.

Jerry Bird, who had returned in the captain's boat, and was as anxious
as any one to recover the young officers, expressed his opinion that
they had gone to the southward or south-west, and Jack resolved to make
his way in that direction, in the hopes of coming upon their "trail," as
the expression is in North America. Desirous as he was of recovering
the lost ones, he did not forget his duty to his ship. He felt that he
must not run the risk of being drawn into a trap and surrounded by a