“Because they have guns, and can use them,” was the appalling answer given by Suarez. “They secured the rifles belonging to my party, and one of them, who had often seen ship’s officers shooting wild geese, understood the method of loading and aiming. They will not waste the cartridges on game, but keep them for tribal warfare, and they think a gun cannot shoot in the dark. To-night they only attempted a surprise, and made off the moment they were discovered. To-morrow, or next day, they will swarm round the ship in hundreds, and fire at us with rifles, bows, and slings. They do most harm with the slings and arrows, as they hold the gun away from the shoulder, but they can cast a heavy pebble from a sling quite as far and almost as straight as a revolver can shoot.” “How do they know the ship will not sail at once?” demanded Courtenay. Suarez laughed hysterically, with the mirth which is akin to tears, when the query was explained to him. He looked bizarre enough under ordinary conditions, but laughter converted him into a fair semblance of one of those blood-curdling demons which a Japanese artist loves to depict. Evidently, he depended on make-up to supplement his powers as a conjurer. “It is as much as a canoe can manage in fine weather to reach the island out there, which they call Seal Island,” he cried, pointing towards the locality of White Horse Island. “Even the Indians were astonished to see so big a ship anchored here safely. They have watched plenty of wrecks outside, and hardly anything comes ashore. At any rate, they are quite sure you cannot go back.” It would be idle to deny that the Spaniard’s words sent a chill of apprehension down the spine of some of those present; but the captain said quietly: “Where a ship is concerned, if she can enter on the flood she can go out on the ebb. How came you to escape to-night?” Tears stood again in Suarez’s eyes as he replied: “When I heard their plan, I imagined they would be driven off, provided a watch were kept. I resolved to risk all in the attempt to reach the company of civilized men once more. I do not care what the outcome may be. If I can help you to overcome them I am ready to do so; if not, I will die by your side. To-night I followed in a canoe unseen. When I heard the shooting, I leaped overboard and swam to the ship. It was lucky for me some one seized the canoe which I found there. The men in her had to swim to other canoes, and two were wounded, I heard them say; this caused some confusion, and I had something to grasp when I reached the ship; otherwise I must have been drowned, as the water was very cold.” “Yet you refused an overcoat a little while ago,” interjected Christobal. “Ah, yes. For many years I have lived altogether in Indian fashion. My skin is hard. Wind or rain cannot harm me. But melted ice mixed with salt water drives even the seals out to sea.” “Can you speak the Alaculof language?”