The houses were erected on platforms several feet over the water, and those on shore were similarly built. People moved about the beach, women being apparently the chief workers, and for some seconds the boat remained unseen.
'Backwater all,' the captain whispered. 'We've struck a hornets' nest, and haven't even a revolver handy.'
The next moment, however, much shouting ashore announced the discovery of the intruders, and many dusky figures hastened to the water's edge.
The captain, believing that a hasty retreat might arouse the suspicions or the contempt of the natives, ordered a stoppage. As long as no canoes came alongside, the people might suppose the visitors were armed.
Most of the islanders were nearly naked. Some of them, however, wore shirts, and others tight-fitting pantaloons, while one of apparent importance was dressed in loose dirty-looking Eastern robes. He stood apart, and beckoned to the captain to approach, and also hailed him in the Dutch language, which, of course, no one in the boat understood.
Captain Thorne, standing erect in the stern sheets, signified his ignorance of that tongue, whereupon the stranger, much to the astonishment of his hearers, inquired in fairly intelligible English if the visitors were British born.
'Yes,' the old man replied. 'I hope we have not given offence. We thought the island was uninhabited, and are seeking for fresh water.'
'Where you shippee?' was the next query.
'At anchor outside.'
'Me savvee plenty. S'pose you come 'shore. Me likee Englishman, but Dutchman no good. He plenty shoot bibbee, women, an' leedle boy an' girl. You come 'shore.'