62 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

of imprudence, and yet, in case the natives were meditat-
ing an attack, the only certain means of preventing it
was by immediate departure.

If he had had one other white man with him, Ben
would then and there have attempted to take the brig
into port without a crew, hazardous as such a course
might be; but Eliphalet’s age and general appearance
suggested that he would not prove a very able or trust-
worthy seaman.

“Tf those fellows don’t make a break between now
and to-morrow morning, I stand some chance of hailing a
sampan that I can send on shore in search of men,” Ben
said to himself; but with this came the idea that, by so
doing, he might only be allowing the evil- disposed inhab -
itants of the island a better opportunity to take possession
of the brig.

In the meantime, the number of boats on the shore
was increased as if by magic.

That they came from opposite points of the island the
watchers knew very well, yet it was seldom they were
able to detect the arrivals until the craft itself was
partially hauled up on the bank.

It was some time before Ben could understand the
meaning of this strange state of affairs, and then he saw
one of the sampans being brought out from among the
foliage by two men.

“The rascals paddle up to that wooded point, then
land to bring their boats across so we sha’ n’t get a glimpse
of them,” he said, believing he was alone; but, when the