"But what is it?" asked Godfrey, whose first movement was to run to the edge of the sequoias. "A canoe!" [Illustration: "A Canoe!" _page 181_] "A canoe?" "Yes! Savages! Quite a fleet of savages! Cannibals, perhaps!" Godfrey looked in the direction pointed out. It was not a fleet, as the distracted Tartlet had said; but he was only mistaken about the quantity. In fact, there was a small vessel gliding through the water, now very calm, about half-a-mile from the coast, so as to double Flag Point. "And why should they be cannibals?" asked Godfrey, turning towards the professor. "Because in Crusoe Islands," answered Tartlet, "there are always cannibals, who arrive sooner or later." "Is it not a boat from some merchant-ship?" "From a ship?" "Yes. From a steamer which passed here yesterday afternoon, in sight of our island?" "And you said nothing to me about it!" exclaimed Tartlet, lifting his hands to the sky. "What good should I have done?" asked Godfrey. "Besides, I thought that the vessel had disappeared! But that boat might belong to her! Let us go and see!" Godfrey ran rapidly back to Will Tree, and, seizing his glass, returned to the edge of the trees. He then examined with extreme attention the little vessel, which would ere then have perceived the flag on Flag Point as it fluttered in the breeze. The glass fell from his hands. "Savages! Yes! They are really savages!" he exclaimed. Tartlet felt his knees knock together, and a tremor of fright ran through his body. It was a vessel manned by savages which Godfrey saw approaching the island. Built like a Polynesian canoe, she carried a large sail of woven bamboo; an outrigger on the weather side kept her from capsizing as she heeled down to the wind. Godfrey easily distinguished the build of the vessel. She was a proa, and this would indicate that Phina Island was not far from Malaysia. But they were not Malays on board; they were half-naked blacks, and there were about a dozen of them. The danger of being found was thus great. Godfrey regretted that he had hoisted the flag, which had not been seen by the ship, but would be by these black fellows. To take it down now would be too late. It was, in truth, very unfortunate. The savages had probably come to the island thinking it was uninhabited, as indeed it had been before the wreck of the _Dream_. But there was the flag, indicating the presence of human beings on the coast! How were they to escape them if they landed? Godfrey knew not what to do. Anyhow his immediate care must be to watch if they set foot on the island. He could think of other things afterwards. With his glass at his eye he followed the proa; he saw it turn the point of the promontory, then run along the shore and then approach the mouth of the small stream, which, two miles up, flowed past Will Tree.