“Keep a sharp look-out along the edge of the trees,” said the captain quietly. “I don’t think any one can have landed; but there is no harm in being safe.”
Jack began sweeping the green edge just beyond the golden sands, but his attention was taken off by the captain as they approached the canoe.
“Look at the brutes,” he said, pointing. “Half-a-dozen of them under her.”
Jack looked at him in horror.
“There, you can see their dusky bodies against the sand.”
“I thought they all escaped by swimming and hanging on to her,” he said a little huskily.
“Escaped by swimming?” replied the captain wonderingly. “What are you talking about?”
“The savages.”
“Oh!” cried the captain, bursting into a hearty laugh, to the boy’s great disgust, “I see. Well, I meant the savages too, but a different sort. Look down there.”
“I don’t care to!” cried Jack hoarsely. “Perhaps it is cowardly; but I don’t want to satisfy a morbid curiosity by gazing down at the dead bodies of my fellow-creatures.”