Beta Book

? ? ? ? On gaining the heights once more, their way led for a time along several ridges covered with enormous ferns. At last they entered upon a wooded tract, and here they overtook a party of Nukuheva natives, well armed, and carrying bundles of long poles. Jimmy seemed to know them all very well, and stopped for awhile, and had a talk about the "Wee-Wees" as the people of Nukuheva call the Monsieurs.

? ? ? ? The party with the poles were King Mowanna's men, and by his orders they had been gathering them in the ravines for his allies, the French.

? ? ? ? Leaving these fellows to trudge on with their loads, Toby and his companions now pushed forward again, as the sun was already low in the west. They came upon the valleys of Nukuheva on one side of the bay, where the highlands slope off into the sea. The men-of-war were still lying in the harbour, and as Toby looked down upon them, the strange events which had happened so recently seemed all a dream.

? ? ? ? They soon descended towards the beach, and found themselves in Jimmy's house before it was well dark.


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