“Five,” mused Captain Gray. “They could easily overpower us as we are but three men now. Oh, if Allen and Harry were only here.”

Mabel raised her head with a startled little cry. “Oh, captain, what if Allen is already in the hands of those horrible natives; or perhaps he and Harry both have been killed and these savages are searching for further traces of our party.”

They now lay as closely as possible to the protecting rocks and after Mabel’s last words, a deathlike hush reigned. The moments seemed like hours in the agonizing suspense, for they knew not how close the dreaded savages might have come by now, as their footfalls, they were aware, could not be heard and they expected any moment to see their malignant faces stealthily peering around the corners of the rocks. They did not dare to go to the edge of the rocky screen to see if their foes were in sight, for fear of betraying their hiding place; they had resolved to fight to the last and not be taken alive if possible.

Perhaps Etta and Mabel dreaded capture more than the three men; they also resolved to fight for their lives, if necessary.

37

CHAPTER VII.

The moments had passed slowly until almost an hour had gone by. Captain Gray was the first to break the long silence with: “I begin to think, that for this time we are safe,” but hardly had the words left his lips when the murmur of voices were heard. The hearts of every member of the little party seemed to stop beating, so intense was their terrible dread. In a moment more the form of a strongly built young savage bounded over the lowest part of the rocky barrier and stood before the horrified group. He was quickly followed by four other natives.

The captain and the rest of the little party sprang to their feet ready to defend themselves, their backs against the rocks, their drawn knives in their hands. But instead of rushing upon them, the young native smiled and pointed to something he carried in his hand, which was a large conch shell, having a curved piece of bright pearl shell attached to it in a curious manner, the whole arrangement being fastened to a long cord of braided grass, and said in a kind voice:

“Fish! Ahleka, Fish! Have no fear of Ahleka.”

The surprise of the little group can be better imagined than described, at hearing very fair English spoken by this stalwart young native, whose skin 38was a rich nut-brown, and 

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