DISAGREEABLE VISITORS. 63

words had been spoken, a clear voice, without the slightest
evidence of tremor in it, said:

“They seem to be gathering in considerable force,
captain, and I fancy it won’t be a great while now before
you will have good proof. of what their intentions are.”

Turning quickly, Ben saw Miss Dunham, who, with her
own marine glass at her eyes, was scrutinising the shore
of the island, and must have been in that position several
moments while he was unaware of her presence.

There was now no reason why he should attempt to
disguise the true position of affairs, for she could see
quite as much as he; therefore he replied, gazing
seaward :

“If there was a breath of air stirring, I’d up anchor
and let the old hooker work off the shore, for our chances
of getting a crew at sea appear to be better than finding
one on this piece of land.”

“Judging from the general appearance of things on
shore now, I should say that we would soon receive a
visit from those fellows.”

“Yes,” Ben replied with a sigh, which Bee his lips
involuntarily. «They ’ll take precious good care to come
before there’s an opportunity for us to leave our anchor-
age.” Then, bringing his hand down on the breech of the
gun with a resounding slap, “ Now I know the meaning of
that visit to my boatmen!” and he told the young lady of
the one incident which occurred during the voyage from
Hong Kong.

“Then you think the men who came off from the island