thundered the Captain, "do you go to your well-deserved
rest. Depend upon it, we shall cover the ship with green until she
looks like the proverbial Christmas hall decked with boughs of holly,
as the song goes!" he added chuckling. "A little later in the day you
shall be called to see what you make of the result. And now, to bed
with ye both!" and he clapped Amos on the back.

Never had his hammock seemed more like a cloud to Chris than it did on
that night, nor was sleep ever more engulfing.

CHAPTER 23

When Chris awoke he saw that Amos had already stolen out of the cabin,
for his hammock was rolled up and put away. By the strength of the sun
and the heat that seeped even through the boards of the ship, Chris
judged that the morning was well advanced.

Dressing was rapid, for Chris, like the rest of the sailors in the
tropic heat, wore only his breeches. His bare chest and shoulders were
tanned and healthy and the soles of his bare feet as tough as shoe
leather.

Running up to the bridge he was startled at first, at coming on deck,
at the sudden green shade everywhere. Then looking up he saw that to
their very peaks the masts and rigging of the _Mirabelle_ had been
hidden with palm fronds. That side of the ship that could be seen from
the sea through the narrow channel entrance had been completely
covered with green. The work was not yet finished, but most of the
crew were sleeping during the hot hours, while a handful had
volunteered to complete the job.

[Illustration]

The cove by daylight was even lovelier than it had seemed by starlight
the night before. The deep water, with a white base of coral sand,
flashed in emerald, turquoise, or sapphire blue. Its clarity and
sparkling colors put the Jewel Tree into Chris's head and he had a
moment's throb of fright when he realized that it was this very night
that he must board the _Venture_ to impede her progress toward the
Chinese prize.

He put these thoughts from his mind until the time came, and decided
to tackle what was most pressing. The most urgent matter that first
claimed his attention was breakfast, and when he reached the bridge he
was delighted to see fruits from the island piled in shady corners.
These and bread and cheese made up his meal, which he ate while
watching the final leaves and fronds put in place on the sides of the
_Mirabelle_.

Captain Blizzard came up to him, his hands clasped behind his back,
and nodded toward the men pu