A party, consisting of Captain Gray, Allen Thornton and four Nahua boys, had already left for the spot where their boat had remained since their landing on the island, safely moored under a huge rock, as it had been considered best to leave it there, its size making it inconvenient to carry it across the island to the village. It had been used occasionally for fishing excursions. Having arrived where the boat was lying, they quickly loosened her from her moorings, set her afloat and were soon threading the narrow channel between the treacherous coral reefs, out to meet the boat that was seeking a landing place. The ship’s boat was now hid from their view by projecting rocks but they were not long in getting clear of most of the obstructions in their way, as they were well used to this tortuous little channel. When they appeared in full view of the approaching crew the effect was startling. The sailors turned suddenly, and with redoubled energy rowed toward the vessel; they were fleeing in terror from what they imagined to be hostile natives, come out to capture them, and their only chance of safety seemed to them to lie in reaching their vessel. Captain Gray and Allen as soon as they discovered how their party had frightened those to whom they were so anxiously hurrying, began to halloo to them. At first the fleeing crew paid no heed, except to renew their efforts to reach their ship. Finally they halted, and apparently listened; then, as if they had assured themselves that it was really English that they heard, they turned their boat a second time toward the land. It was but a few moments before the two boats were close together. Captain Gray addressed the newcomers. He was answered by the mate of the vessel who was in command of the boat. “We belong to the Eliza Judd,” said he, “and such a knocking about as we’ve had ain’t often come my way, though I’ve been to sea off an on these twenty odd years. I’ll tell ye now, we’ve had a tough time of it.” “Where do you come from?” asked Captain Gray. “We hail from New Zealand, and are bound for San Francisco, but we have had such bad weather and been delayed so long that our stock of fresh water, which was not large at the start, has given out and under this devilish hot sun we can’t stand it long without water. So, sighting this island, the captain made up his mind he would land in search of fresh water and run the chance of meeting with unfriendly natives, but by George, we didn’t expect to find the island inhabited by whites.” “Well, the island not exactly inhabited by whites, as you suppose, for we are only a small party of shipwrecked travellers. We have been here for three years, and I can tell you we will be glad enough to get a chance to leave.”