No one answered; and, to Dutch's great delight, they were soon back on board, to find everybody half asleep, and no sign whatever of danger; and though far from being disposed to greet his wife in the old way, he felt, in spite of himself, obliged to say a few kind words as she pressed forward to meet him, her eager eyes telling of her joy to see him back. Then he shrank away with a frown, for it seemed to him that the mulatto was watching them curiously, though the second time he glanced at the man he was busy arranging a brightly-coloured kerchief over his head, before leaning back against the bulwark with half-closed eyes. Nothing had taken place in their absence, and a dead calm had fallen. The heat was excessive, for not the faintest breath of air came from land or sea; but the beauty of the surroundings seemed to have its effect upon all, even to the lowest sailor; for as the evening came on, and the stars were lighted aloft, there was a dreamy delight in the darkening forest shore, where fireflies flitted; and once more strange whisperings, rustlings of trees, and splashes in the water were heard. But they did not excite the superstitious dread of the previous night; and at last, when most careful arrangements had been made by Captain Studwick to guard against internal and external surprise, watch was set, and the silence of death seemed to tall upon the schooner. STORY ONE, CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. THE PROTECTORS OF THE TREASURE. That night passed away quietly enough, after a discussion as to future proceedings, when it had been decided to leave Sam Oakum to his own devices; for they were so solely dependent upon his success that it would have been folly to interfere. "It was easy enough at Ramwich to talk about sweeping the sea till we found what we sought," said Mr Parkley, dolefully; "but now we are here it seems as if we might hunt for our lifetimes without success." "And yet that scoundrel discovered the old wrecks," said Dutch, firmly. "What one man has done another can do. For my part, now we are out upon the adventure, I mean to stop till we succeed." Mr Parkley patted him on the back, and looked up smilingly at him; and Dutch's words seemed to impart spirit to all present. Sam Oakum had insisted upon taking the first watch, declaring that he was not tired, and wanted to think; and the consequence was that the sun was well up before he put in an appearance on deck after his breakfast. "Now, Oakum," said Captain Studwick, rather impatiently, "what do you propose doing? Shall we up anchor and run along the coast a little way, and then anchor and have a fresh search?"