"The fact is," said Jack, "Fritz has found some queer thing on the
coast that he can't bring home, and wants us to see it. But I dare say
we shall know what it all means in good time."

Fritz was our guide, and went first in his bark boat, or CA-NOE. In
this he could go round the rocks and shoals that girt the coast, which
would not have been safe for the large boat. He went up all the small
creeks we met with on the way, and kept a sharp look-out for the smoke
by which he would know the rock we came out to find.

I must tell you that once when he came to these parts with Ernest he
met with a TI-GER, and would have lost his life had it not been for his
pet Ea-gle. The brave bird, to save Fritz from the beast, made a swoop
down on its head. Fritz thus got off with a scratch or two, but the
poor bird was struck dead by a blow from the paw of its foe. This was a
sad loss to Fritz, for his pet had been a kind friend, and would go
with him at all times when he went far from home.

There was scarce a spot we came to that did not bring to the mind of
one of us some such tale as this, so that we were full of talk while
the boat bore us on.

We had been out some days, but could find no trace of what we went in
search. I rose from my berth at dawn, and went on deck with Fritz. I
told him that as we had no clue to the place, we must now give up the
search. He did not seem to like this, but no more was said. That day we
spent on shore, and came back to our boat to sleep at night. Next day
we were to change our course, and trace our way back, for the wind now
blew from the sea.