“Yes; and if four of our new friends ought not to be back there at this minute, I am very much mistaken.”
“Are they convicts?” asked Frank, drawing a long breath.
“I don’t know. Wait till you see them, and then tell me what you think about it. This trouble is going to interfere with our arrangements a trifle. This being our second break-up, we have but few spars and little spare canvas left, so we can only refit here temporarily—in other words, put up such rigging as will last until we can reach some port where we can go into the docks and have a regular overhauling. If we are going to Natal we must cross the Indian Ocean, and I don’t want to venture near the Mauritius with a leaky vessel. It blows too hard there sometimes. We have been driven a long way out of our course, and if my calculations are correct, our nearest port is Hobart Town. We’ll go there, and while the vessel is being refitted we’ll take a run back into the country and see how the sheep and cattle herders live. We shall be obliged to stay there a month or two, and perhaps by the time we are ready to sail again you boys will decide that you don’t want to go to Japan. If you do, it will suit me. By the way, I wish you would step into the forecastle every half hour or so and see if those men want anything. Good-night.”
Uncle Dick went down into his cabin, and Frank walked off where Archie stood leaning on his musket and watching the island, whose dim outlines could just be seen through the darkness. “Do you hear or see anything?” he asked.
“Nothing at all,” answered Archie. “It is dull business, this standing guard when there’s nothing going on.”
“Well, I’ll relieve you.”
“Oh, no; you stay here and talk to me, and I will hold the musket. What was it Uncle Dick said about going back to Japan?”
Frank repeated the conversation he had had with the captain, adding:
“You know his heart is set on going to Natal, and I believe that was one reason why he undertook this voyage. He has often told me that he would go a long distance just to see a wild elephant once more. If we waste much more time on our journey we can’t stay a great while in Africa. Uncle Dick’s wishes ought to be respected.”
“Of course they must be,” said Archie, quickly. “Well, I’d as soon go to Australia as to Japan. Perhaps we’ll have a chance to knock over a kangaroo, and that’s an animal I’ve never seen yet.”