Page:Barbour--Joan of the ilsand.djvu/265

 UNNING down the beach were a number of blacks.

Keith sprang across the sand to the low scrub beyond, and not until they were concealed behind it did he release Joan. It seemed that they had reached cover without being observed, while they had the natives in plain sight.

"It must be the men off the schooner," said Keith. "They're running their boat down to the water. Goodness only knows what has happened on this island during the last hour or two, though!"

"I'm afraid the bungalow is in ruins, anyway," Joan added sorrowfully. "See, they are not all going off in the boat!"

"No. There'll be two loads of them," replied Keith.

Then there fell a strange silence between them as they watched. The second load of blacks included the last of Moniz's ruffians. Cries came across the water from the schooner. Some dispute, evidently attended by violence, was in progress. Though those on Tao Tao never knew it, Baloo was mak- 253