“Blow me!” he burst out, as if Don was already initiated into his train of thought, “the wery identical thing, lad. An what's that? you naterally axes. Why, d'ye see, I've been splicin' o' my idees together a bit, so to say, an' shiver my main-brace if I ain't gone an' rescued Master Jack!”
Edging away a little lest the captain's rising excitement should again culminate in one of his well-meant, but none the less undesirable thumps, “You mean, I suppose,” said Don, “that you've hit upon a plan for his rescue.”
“Ay, lad,” assented the captain, “but an idee well spun is a deed half done, d'ye mind me. Howsomedever, let's take our bearin's afore we runs for port, says you. An' to begin with, as the shark said——”
What the shark said, as well as what the captain was about to say, was doomed to remain for ever a matter of conjecture, for at that instant Puggles set up a shout that effectually interrupted the conversation.
“Sa'b! sar! me done see um, sa'b. Him done come back, sar.”
Naturally enough, Don's first thought was of Jack. He sprang to his feet, his heart giving a wild leap of joy, and then standing still with suspense. For in all the clearing no human form appeared.
Puggles had now reached his master's side. “Him there got, sa'b, there!” he reiterated, pointing towards the narrow break in the jungle which indicated the starting-point of the pathway to the creek. Between this point and the spot where they stood, the jungle grass grew thick and tall.
As they looked they saw it sway in a long, wavy undulation, as if some living thing were rapidly making its way towards them. In another moment the rank covert parted, and there appeared, not Jack, but Bosin.
“Knots an' marlinspikes!” ejaculated the delighted captain, as the monkey scrambled chattering upon his knee. “What's this 'ere as the imp o' darkness's been an' made a prize of? I axes.”
Around the monkey's neck a shred of draggled, blood-stained linen was securely bound. Already Don was fumbling at the knot, his face whiter than the rag itself.