In the meantime the girls and Hans had not been idle. They had searched in all directions for material to build a fire. They succeeded in finding a number of pieces of driftwood, which, during some storm had been cast high and dry on this rocky point. The captain had been fortunate enough to have kept some matches perfectly dry, as his little gold match-box, which he carried in an inner pocket, shut so tightly that not a drop of water had reached the now much needed and precious matches. The girls had arranged a fire all ready to light when any of the party came back, so that if they found any game or fish they would be able to cook it immediately. Consequently when captain and Ben returned, the fire was soon going, and the crabs put into the hot ashes to cook. Hans had found a comfortable shade from the sun behind some huge rocks which was very pleasant to the captain and Ben, who had not found a particle of shade during the time they were exploring and so were very much heated, for, although the hour was early the heat of the sun was intense. During the absence of captain and Ben, Hans had busied himself making a bucket of the staves of the broken water cask and needed only hoops to complete it. The two girls started to the boat after them. They had been gone but a few moments when they rushed back, with their faces as pale as death. Etta, throwing herself into her father’s arms, cried: “Papa, what shall we do, where can we hide? They have come, they have seen us, I am sure they have. Oh, papa, papa, what shall we do?” Their fear soon communicated itself to the whole group. “What is it,” exclaimed Captain Gray, “who has come?” “The natives,” whispered Mabel, “don’t speak so loud, perhaps they didn’t see us after all.” The captain was busy, meanwhile, trying to smother the fire by dragging a portion of the old sail upon it. “If the smoke does not attract their notice,” said Captain Gray, “we may still be safe, if as Mabel thinks, they did not see you.” “But papa, I am sure they did see us and they are cannibals, I know they are cannibals. What shall we do?” “Put your trust in the Lord, and fear not,” said Mabel, drawing Etta close to her. “Are you never frightened at anything Mabel, you are so calm?” “Yes, I am afraid now, but I feel that what is best for me will happen, and it is useless for me to struggle against fate.” “How many natives were they and how far away?” inquired the captain. “There was five,” replied Mabel, “and they were just coming over the crest of the hill as we saw them.” “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.”