"Yes," said Gordon, with the haste of a man to show that sleep
has no hold on him; "exactly; what is it?"

"There is a ship of war in the harbor," Bradley answered in a
whisper. "I heard her anchor chains rattle when she came to,
and that woke me. I could hear that if I were dead. And then
I made sure by her lights; she's a great boat, sir, and I can
know she's a ship of war by the challenging when they change
the watch. I thought you'd like to know, sir."

Gordon sat up and clutched his knees with his hands. "Yes, of
course," he said; "you are quite right. Still, I don't see
what there is to do."

He did not wish to show too much youthful interest, but though
fresh from civilization, he had learned how far from it he
was, and he was curious to see this sign of it that had come
so much more quickly than he had anticipated.

"Wake Mr. Stedman, will you?" said he, "and we will go and
take a look at her."

"You can see nothing but the lights," said Bradley, as he left
the room; "it's a black night, sir."

Stedman was not new from the sight of men and ships of war,
and came in half dressed and eager.

"Do you suppose it's the big canoe Messenwah spoke of?" he
said.