shore. They are very short of provisions, and being
practically unarmed are in great danger of being massacred
by the natives, who are believed to be one of the fiercest
cannibal tribes in the South Sea.

Four of the crew put off in the ship's boat to seek
assistance, but they lost their mast and had to rely on the
oars, and drifted for several days before being picked up
in the Coral Sea. A gunboat will be despatched immediately,
but since it cannot reach the island for at least five
days, it is greatly to be feared that it will arrive only
to find that help has come too late.


Smith ran his eyes rapidly over the lines, then folded the paper, and
put it into his pocket. He did not notice that his hand was trembling.
The station-master looked curiously after him as he strode away with
set face.

"Seems to have had bad news," he said to his head porter.

"Bin plungin' on a wrong un, maybe," replied the porter.

Smith left the station, and hastened down the road towards the farm.
He had clean forgotten his intention of bespeaking beds in the
village; indeed, he walked as one insensible to all around him until
he caught sight of the word GARAGE, painted in large white letters,
illuminated by an electric lamp, over a gateway at the side of the
road. Then he swung round and, passing through the gate, came to a
lighted shed where he found a man cleaning a motor car.