Coral Island.


AFTER the battle was over, the savages crowded round us and gazed
at us in surprise, while they continued to pour upon us a flood of
questions, which, being wholly unintelligible, of course we could
not answer. However, by way of putting an end to it, Jack took the
chief (who had recovered from the effects of his wound) by the hand
and shook it warmly. No sooner did the blacks see that this was
meant to express good-will than they shook hands with us all round.
After this ceremony was gone through Jack went up to the girl, who
had never once moved from the rock where she had been left, but had
continued an eager spectator of all that had passed. He made signs
to her to follow him and then, taking the chief by the hand, was
about to conduct him to the bower when his eye fell on the poor
infant which had been thrown into the sea and was still lying on
the shore. Dropping the chief's hand he hastened towards it, and,
to his great joy, found it to be still alive. We also found that
the mother was beginning to recover slowly.

"Here, get out o' the way," said Jack, pushing us aside, as we
stooped over the poor woman and endeavoured to restore her, "I'll
soon bring her round." So saying, he placed the infant on her
bosom and laid its warm cheek on hers. The effect was wonderful.
The woman opened her eyes, felt the child, looked at it, and with a
cry of joy clasped it in her arms, at the same time endeavouring to
rise, for the purpose, apparently, of rushing into the woods.

"There, that's all right," said Jack, once more taking the chief by
the hand. "Now Ralph and Peterkin, make the women and these