All of a sudden the captain started to his feet--the boat spun round, and again made for the shore.

Some twenty or thirty natives armed with spears which through the glass looked like reeds, had just come out of the grove, and were apparently shouting to the strangers not to be in such a hurry, but return and be sociable.

But they were somewhat distrusted, for the boat paused about its length from the beach, when the captain standing up in its head delivered an address in pantomime, the object of which seemed to be, that the islanders should draw near.

One of them stepped forward and made answer, seemingly again urging the strangers not to be diffident, but beach their boat.

The captain declined, tossing his arms about in another pantomime.