"Prog was gettin' mighty short," interpolated the red-bearded man.
"You can easily discern, sir," continued the gentleman, "that it was impossible for myself and my daughter to remain longer on that vessel, on which we were the only passengers. I therefore requested the captain to put us ashore at the nearest land, and, after more than a week of delay and demur, he consented to do so."
"Couldn't do it," said the man, "till there was land nigh enough."
"The captain informed me," continued the gentleman, "that this island was inhabited, and that I could here find shelter and repose until a vessel could be sent from Honolulu to take me off. He furnished me with this boat and three seamen, one of whom," pointing to the red-bearded man, "is a coxswain. We have been rowing ever since early this morning, with but a very moderate quantity of food and much discomfort. Now, sir, you have heard my story; and I ask you, as one man to another, if you still intend to bar your water-gates against us?"
"I did not bar the gates," I said, "and I would gladly unlock them if I could. I belong to a shipwrecked party who took refuge here some two weeks ago."
"And how did you get in?" hastily inquired the red-bearded coxswain.
"Our boat sunk when we were within sight of the island, and we came here on life-preservers, and so got under the bars."
The two men who had been rowing now turned suddenly and looked at me. They both had black beards, and they both exclaimed at the same moment, "By George!"
"I won't stop here to tell any more of our story," said I. "The great point now is to get you all ashore, and have you cared for."
"That's so!" said the coxswain. And the two sailors murmured, "Aye, aye, sir."