* * * * *
Neither Fitzroy nor his boy were easy enough in their minds to-night to sleep.
The moon was at its height, when suddenly Ralph started up and bayed in anger. A huge war-canoe had swept round the point and was entering the creek.
The big gun was directed at it immediately.
“Who goes there? Speak quick, or I fire!”
“All right, Fitz. It’s Stransom. Prepare to receive royalty.”
“Hurrah!” shouted Gourmand, seizing his big bass instrument which had been made specially for him, and wound right round his shoulder like a Highlander’s plaid. The mouthpiece of it was so big that Willie could get inside easily. He blew a blast that would have awakened the dead.
When with considerable difficulty, for he was very fat, the old king got up the side, and saw Gourmand, he started back and nearly went heels over head into the sea again.
“Don’t be afraid, old boy,” said Stransom, hitting him a smack on the back that almost took his breath away. “That’s only one of my little boys.”
Then Stransom gave Tootaker orders not to let anyone else up the side, for savages are arrant thieves, and took the king below to the saloon. The king’s eyes were now like bull’s eyes with amazement mingled with fear.