CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.
HOW MARK ENCOUNTERED A SAVAGE.
"We were beginning to think you long," said the captain as they reached the cocoa-nut grove, having found that though there were signs of palm leaves and young trees having been cut by the mouth of the stream this had not been selected as the site of the huts.
"We've been a long way," said the major.

"Not empty-handed, you see." "Splendid," cried the captain; "but you need not have stopped to pick them." "Thereby hangs a tale," said the major, laughing.

"How's Morgan ?" "Much better, and sitting up.

There, you see, we've not been idle." He pointed to a large low hut formed in the cocoa-nut grove by utilising six growing trees as corners and centre-posts, and binding to these thin horizontal poles, freshly cut down for eaves and ridge.

Others formed gables, being fixed by the sailors with their customary deftness, thin rattans being used as binding cords.