“I see, I see,� she cried, in turn. “Who can they be?�
“Dwellers from the other islands to the westward,� I answered.
They could not see us yet fortunately but, after all, that mattered little save as a temporary respite. Strangely enough, my lady did not seem to be nearly so disturbed as I.
“The reef will protect us again,� she said at last, looking at me confidently.
“Not for a moment,� I answered, “they will ride that reef in those light canoes more easily than we did.�
“And you think—� she instantly began.
“Our lives are in God’s hands. If I know anything these will be ferocious, bloodthirsty savages. See, they are armed.�
I pointed to one tall brown man who stood up in the bow of the nearest canoe, flourishing a broad-bladed spear.
“We must hide,� she said.
“But where? They will search the whole island as soon as they discover our boat and other belongings and realize that some strangers are here. Where can we find concealment?�