I followed him; but I deemed it advisable to keep at a respectful distance from him. His only purpose was to get rid of me, and I did not believe that he would be very scrupulous about the means of doing so. I did not think he would attempt to murder me, or anything of that sort; but Miss Collingsby, and Miss Collingsby's expectations, were the prize for which he was playing. I followed him about twenty rods from the boat, but without seeing anything which looked like flowers. Indeed, I had landed here before; and I should as soon have thought of looking for flowers in the Desert of Sahara as in this region.
Mr. Ben Waterford seated himself on a little hummock, and looked as though he had something more to say. He did not seem to be in any hurry, though Miss Collingsby was alone on board of the yacht; and, as the Florina was also in the lagoon, I could afford to wait as long as he could; so I seated myself on another hummock near him.
CHAPTER XVIII.
IN WHICH PHIL PROTESTS WITH THE BOAT-HOOK, BUT IS PROTESTED.
"Phil, you are aware, I suppose, that I am engaged to Miss Collingsby," Mr. Ben Waterford began.
"I must acknowledge my own ignorance. I was not aware of it," I replied.
"It is so."
"Was that what made her scream while I was getting dinner?"
"Scream! She didn't scream!"