"Christopher? Christopher, here I am," came Mr. Wicker's voice. "How are you? All going well I hope. Please do me the favor to tell the Captain not to put ashore at his usual place in Tahiti, but to go by night to a cove he will find twelve leagues farther along the coast. I will tell you what to do nearer that time. He will find ample fresh water near that cove, but the _Venture_ is up to mischief. You must escape it, and all on board the _Mirabelle_ shall be witnesses to what Claggett Chew plans to do." The voice faded out and then returned. "You would probably like to know how far behind the _Venture_ is. She ran aground--most unfortunately and most surprisingly--and is three full days behind you. But she is a fast ship and will soon lessen the distance. Please to tell the Captain so; he is the only one to know of my gifts and that it is possible for me to communicate with you. Tell him not to stop for water or food until his stores are running low. You must not waste time. Have you heard me? Tap the edge of the shell three times for 'Yes.'" Chris tapped three times, feeling much happier and all at once not quite so much alone. The voice came back to his ear. "I am following your progress from this room in the manner you know. Practise your magic alone, or you will lose the knack. And now good night. Oh yes--Becky Boozer has been crying into her apron all day. Partly for Ned Cilley but I fancy--" Chris heard a chuckle from a well-remembered room--"but I fancy, largely for two boys! Good night, Christopher. Sleep well." CHAPTER 20 As the Mirabelle sailed farther into tropical seas, Chris and Amos worked out a pattern for their days. Before sunup, while the air was still cool from the night, the two boys were awakened by Ned Cilley or Abner Cloud. They joined the sailors on deck to do their share of chores--mending rigging, patching sails, scrubbing decks, or polishing brass. When the sun rose the boys breakfasted. The men of the _Mirabelle_ then went on with their various tasks, but Amos went up to the Captain's bridge where he listened to Mr. Finney and Captain Blizzard, and Chris went down to their cabin for an hour or more. Supposedly, Chris was studying lessons. This was only partially true, for instead of sums, he was practising magic, in which he soon attained a high degree of proficiency. What he most enjoyed was turning himself into some small commonplace creature to plague his friends on board--a mouse, one day, a flea the next, a fly on the third. Quite naturally, no one suspected his ability to adopt such fantastic disguises. So little did they guess--he had one or two narrow escapes from being swatted or stamped on.