“What, in getting away from being slaves aboard ship? Why, o’ course.”
Don shook his head.
“I don’t know,” he said, sadly. “We are here right away on the other side of the world amongst savages, and I see no chance of getting away back home.”
“Oh, but we arn’t tried yet, my lad.”
“No, we haven’t tried, Jem.”
“My pakeha! My pakeha!” came from below.
“There he goes again!” growled Jem. “Do tell Tomati to ask him to call you something else. I know I shall get in a row if you don’t.”
“You must not get into any quarrel, Jem,” said Don, thoughtfully; “for we ought to keep the best of friends with these people. Ahoy!”
An answering cry came back, and they began to descend with the darkness coming on and a strange depression of spirit troubling Don, as he felt more and more as if for the first time in their lives he and Jem Wimble were thoroughly alone in the world.