would her father wish to house any in such close

proximity to his workshop, where he would desire

absolute quiet and freedom from interruption. The

discovery perplexed her not a little, but so changed

were her relations with her father that she would not

question him upon this or any other subject.

As the two chests were being carried into the central

campong, Sing, who was standing near Virginia, called

her attention to the fact that Bududreen was one of those

who staggered beneath the weight of the heavier burden.

"Bludleen, him mate. Why workee alsame lascar boy? Eh?"

But Virginia could give no reason.

"I am afraid you don't like Bududreen, Sing," she said.

"Has he ever harmed you in any way?"

"Him? No, him no hurt Sing. Sing poor," with which

more or less enigmatical rejoinder the Chinaman

returned to his work. But he muttered much to himself

the balance of the day, for Sing knew that a chest that

strained four men in the carrying could contain but one

thing, and he knew that Bududreen was as wise in such

matters as he.

For a couple of months the life of the little hidden

camp went on peacefully and without exciting incident.

The Malay and lascar crew divided their time between

watch duty on board the Ithaca, policing the camp, and

cultivating a little patch of clearing just south of

their own campong.

There was a small bay on the island's east coast, only

a quarter of a mile from camp, in which oysters were

found, and one of the Ithaca's boats was brought around

to this side of the island for fishing. Bududreen

often accompanied these expeditions, and on several

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