interior, and that they had believed you dead until a few days

since they had captured one of the natives and learned that

you had all escaped, and were wandering in some part of the

island unknown to them.

"Then we set out with a company of marines to find you.

Your father, impatient of the seeming slowness of the officer

in command, pushed ahead with Mr. Mallory, Mr. Poster, and

myself, and two of the men of the Lotus whom he had

brought along with us.

"Three days ago we were attacked and your father and Mr.

Mallory taken prisoners. The rest of us escaped, and endeavored

to make our way back to the marines, but we became

confused and have been wandering aimlessly about the island

ever since until we were surprised by these natives a few

moments ago. Both the seamen were killed in this last fight

and Mr. Foster and myself taken prisoners--the rest you

know."

Byrne was on his feet now. He found his sword and

revolver and replaced them in his belt.

"You men stay here on the island and take care of Miss

Harding," he said. "If I don't come back the marines will find

you sooner or later, or you can make your way to the coast,

and work around toward the cove. Good-bye, Miss Harding."

"Where are you going?" cried the girl.

"To get your father--and Mr. Mallory," said the mucker.

CHAPTER XVI

THE SUPREME SACRIFICE

THROUGH the balance of the day and all during the long

night Billy Byrne swung along his lonely way, retracing the

familiar steps of the journey that had brought Barbara Harding

and himself to the little island in the turbulent river.

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