“Yes,” he said, frowning; “I am Carey’s—er—old man.”
“Me Jackum! You shake han’?”
“Next to Bostock and the doctor, father, my best friend,” said Carey, eagerly.
“Then he is mine,” said Mr Cranford.
“Here’s a canoe of savages off from the island,” shouted the captain of the Chusan from the deck. “Does this mean a fight?”
“Jackum boy come back,” cried the black. “No shoot; all good boy. Jackum take you Big Dan island. Plenty shell, plenty copra, plenty old ship ’tuff. Big Dan mumkull. Jackum give all Car-ee now.”
But no start was made for the other portion of the King’s domain, for a few days were necessary in the way of rest for the doctor; and the captain of the Chusan and the mate had to satisfy themselves of the impossibility of getting the vessel off. During these days, though, there were busy times, for the specie the Chusan had been bearing was all hoisted out in safety and transferred to the smaller vessel.
Not much else was done save the taking on board of the pearl shells as the freight belonging to the doctor and Carey. The pearls were already in safety, and Bostock made a greater haul with the help of a chum and the blacks from the tubs ashore.
“Twice as many as the first go, my lad,” said the old sailor, rubbing his hands, “and, I say, oughtn’t you and the doctor to lay claim to what we’re a-going to find?”
“No,” said Carey, “and besides, we have not found it yet. If there is much worth having it will go, I should think, to the company that owns the Chusan. But we shall see.”