"What in heaven's name brought you here, Phil?"
"The 'Heron,' and we were sent by Barry Tuxford. We have another schooner, the 'Wild Cat,' see, she is just entering the heads."
"And who is this young man?"
"Mr. Redland. He is in the venture with Harry Marton, who is on that schooner, and we are all in it with Barry."
"Then he did not believe I was dead?"
"No. The beggars said you were drowned, when they reached Fremantle, and that there was no pearl shell to be found, but Barry didn't cotton to that yarn, so he organised another expedition to find you and your boy, and here we are."
"And a precious long while you have been, it seems years since those scoundrels put me ashore here, but I'll get even with them one of these days."
The "Wild Cat" cast anchor close to the "Heron," and Harry and Hake Moss came ashore and heartily greeted Rank.
"I'll tell you what it is, before we get on to business, or anything else, I should like to go on board and have a decent meal. I have not starved here, but living on turtle, birds, and eggs, is a bit too much for me. I'd give anything for a decent bit of bread and something to wash it down," said Rank.
"Of course," quickly replied Jack. "Here we are standing talking and never thinking about you. Come along, we will row back at once."