Three hundred feet away the sea broke in a small surf upon the beach.

To the left he could see the white line of breakers that marked the bar of the Balesuna River, and, beyond, the rugged outline of Savo Island.

Directly before him, across the twelve-mile channel, lay Florida Island; and, farther to the right, dim in the distance, he could make out portions of Malaita--the savage island, the abode of murder, and robbery, and man-eating--the place from which his own two hundred plantation hands had been recruited.
Between him and the beach was the cane-grass fence of the compound.

The gate was ajar, and he sent the house-boy to close it.

Within the fence grew a number of lofty cocoanut palms.