ives plunged into the sea up to the waist,
but they did not attempt to swim after the boat, which soon reached the
_Searcher_.

Mont expected to see someone, but the platform was deserted.

Our hero at once went to the captain, being alarmed at the hostile
attitude of the savages, whom he did not doubt were possessed of canoes
and would make an attack upon the ship.

He was annoyed at being obliged to take shelter so soon, but what could
he do?

All his hopes of liberty in flight were nipped in the bud.

He began to see now that Captain Vindex knew the character of the coast,
and had calculated well on their return to their captivity.

Imprisonment with him was better than death or slavery among the savages
of the island.

The captain was sitting in front of the organ playing an exquisite air
of Beethoven.

Full of excitement, Mont had no time to listen.

He touched him on the shoulder.

The Wizard of the Sea seemed unconscious of his presence.

"Captain," said our hero.

The strange being shivered and turned round.

"Ah," he cried, "'tis you, Mr. Folsom. Have you had good sport? You have
returned sooner than I expected."

"The sport was not bad," replied Mont, "but unfortunately we met with a
troop of savages, who spoilt our fun."

The captain smiled ironically.

"Savages!" he repeated. "Were you surprised at meeting with them? Have
you so little geographical knowledge that you do not know they swarm
hereabouts?"

"All I know is," replied Mont, "that if you don't want them on board the
boat, you had better look out."

"My dear fellow," said the captain, "I am not likely to trouble my head
about such wretches."

"But there are lots of them."

"How many?"

"Over three hundred, I should think, as well as I could count."

"We have nothing to fear from them, nothing at all," said the captain.
"Don't be alarmed."

Without another word he turned again to the organ, and played a Scotch
air which had an indescribable charm about it.

He was plunged again in a reverie that Mont did not think it prudent to
interrupt.

He remounted to the platform without seeing a single negro.

The most absolute want of precaution reigned on board the _Searcher_,
and it looked as if no one knew that hundreds of howling savages were
within five minutes' row of them.

In the growing darkness, which came on while Mont was alone, he could
see the forms of the natives running backward and forward on the beach.

T