So saying, the young man plunged into the water, closely followed by the old tar, greatly to the indignation of Brand, who, clenching his fists, muttered to himself:
"I will be even with them, yet."
Meanwhile the beach now being but twenty yards distant from the raft, Harry and his friend were soon ashore.
"Perhaps I was mistaken," said Mary, as she fled to her lover's side, "but I feel quite certain I saw the head of a savage, protruding over the shrubbery near my bower," pointing as she spoke, towards a clump of bushes about forty yards from the sylvan shelter.
Instantly Harry bounded toward the spot, armed with a stout club picked up from the ground.
Turk was about following, when a thought seemed to strike him. He retraced his step, and, taking from his pocket his bottle of grog, rolled it up in a green breadfruit leaf, and presented it to Mary.
"Here, lass!" said he, "please take charge of this and—" here a suppressed sob escaped the old fellow, "if I never return to claim it, keep it as a testamentary of affection from Tom Turk."
Before the girl could reply, he was off after Harry, who, by this time, was close upon the clump of shrubbery.
The young man looked all around him, but could see neither sign nor trace of a savage.
Concluding the girl's fancy had deceived her, both men returned to assure her that such was the case. Mary, however, looked doubtful.