"Well, we jawed back and forth for an hour, maybe more. Two or three
times we got up to have it out, but 'twas too hot to fight, so we set
down again. Fin'lly we eat some supper, custard apples and water, and
turned in.

"But 'twas too hot to sleep much, and I got up about three o'clock in
the morning and went out and set down on the beach in the moonlight.
Pretty soon out comes Hammond and sets down alongside and begins to give
the weather a general overhauling, callin' it everything he could lay
tongue to. Pretty soon he breaks off in the middle of a nine-j'inted
swear word and sings out:

"'Am I goin' crazy, or is that a schooner?'

"I looked out into the moonlight, and there, sure enough, was a
schooner, about a mile off the island, and coming dead on. First-off
we thought 'twas Lazarus coming back, but pretty soon we see 'twas a
considerable smaller boat than his.

"We forgot all about how hot it was and hustled out on the reef right at
the mouth of the lagoon. I had a coat on a stick, and I waved it for a
signal, and Hammond set to work building a bonfire. He got a noble one
blazing and then him and me stood and watched the schooner.

"She was acting dreadful queer. First she'd go ahead on one tack and
then give a heave over and come about with a bang, sails flapping and
everything of a shake; then she'd give another slat and go off another
way; but mainly she kept right on toward the island.

"'W'at's the matter aboard there?' says Hammond. 'Is hall 'ands drunk?'