Edward Barry / South Sea Pearler

r, Velo, the Samoan, who was on the

nua" ("The smell of

ch a night as this, when the sea is smooth, and the land lies low, we

palm-clad islets on the south side of Arrecifos Lagoon. At daylight the Mahina ran through the south-east passage, and dropped her anchor in thirteen fathoms, close to the

itself. The islands were densely covered with coco palms, interspersed here and there with lofty puka trees, the nesting-places of countless thousands of a small species of sooty petrel, whose discor

, which pulled out towards the centre of the lagoon. Half a mile due west from the centre of the south-east islet the deep blue w

g bearings, and studying a rough plan of the lagoon which had been given him by Raw

ut even before they were half-way down the other natives in the boat, who were intently scanning the bottom, cried out that they could see "plenty pearl shell."

rkled. "What do you thi

here is a huge fortune in it-shell such as that is worth 250 poun

us get back to the ship as quickly as possible, and get ready to start work," and seizing

ed, and he now seemed a prey to emotion, his face alternately paling and flushing with excitement, and Barry saw that h

ulent-looking Greek boatswain, were

d Barradas

a low voice, as if he feared to speak a

red above the rail, and both he and the second mate

erience of pearl-shelling in the Paumotus, was to have practically the entire control of the natives and charge of the boats, and the choice of a permanent anchorage was also to be left to him, and also the selection of a site for the shore station, where houses were to be built by the native crew, so that they might live on shore when bad weather prevented them from diving. A quarter of a mile from where the brig lay anchored was a sandbank covered with a low, dense scrub about three feet high. The beach was the haunt and laying-place of huge gr

est island on the western side, which was also well timbered, and would be best sui

ay where we are? Besides that, the big island is inhabited, so Gurden said, and the nat

ky, and when they become sulky they won't dive. Now that big island, so Gurden told you, is much higher than any of the rest; it has not only plenty of coconuts, but groves of breadfruit as well, and there are several native wells there. If we remained here, I am afraid that our men would be continually grumbling. Every now and then some

sullenly; "and besides that I've arranged with

in, "whatever you suggest I will do; only

the whaleboats with four or five hands and two days' provi

d, Rawlings invited his officer

ifle and a dozen cartridges, in case of their being attacked by the natives. At two o'clock they l

Warner entered the main cabin with Barradas,

ngry voices, and Mr. Edward Barry would have been deeply interested in their

table with his chin resting on his hands, and looking at Barradas-"I tell yo

, "he is a good fellow, and I won't do it.

silence for a few seconds. Then he laid it down again, and his black eyes g

me out some day-it always does, my brave and tender-hearted Manuel. You and I have been l

"Mus' we all tree be hung like dogga, because

hief!" and Barradas sprang to his feet. "Take it back, you mon

s back into his seat, and then turned furiously upon the Greek. "What the do you mean by insulting Manuel l

e, dashed it down upon the cabin floor a

oward, you are brave man. We are all go

the Greek, and then at Warner, his dark; lowering face quivered, "come, let us understand each other. I swear to you both, by the Holy Virgin, that I will be t

, but Rawlings' foot pr

us say no more about it. I yield

relief, and held out

ay me false?"

ing the Greek's foot again, and then sta

"as you say, he is a good man, and perhaps he can do us no harm. And we

ng together in ami

to spread the after awning. As the seamen carried the heavy canvas up the starboard poop ladder the Greek walked up near

em will hav

e here. As for that drunken, red-bearded pig, we'll keep him with us. Those niggers of his will be useful to us later on-they will wipe out these cursed Gilbert Islanders for us when the tim

e first to put my knife into the thro