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258 taken no part in the wrecking of the bungalow, for of all the black crew on the island, he was the only man who knew where the stores were kept.

During this time Keith and the girl kept a constant eye among the trees beyond the compound, but no further demonstration was made by the blacks. Peter Pan was closely cross-examined as to what part the plantation labourers had taken in the affair, and he told of the manner in which Taleile had been murdered. As far as Keith could make out from the house boy's story, the plantation hands had run riot almost to a man, as soon as the attack started. Maromi, however, had remained loyal, and had even endeavoured to enter the bungalow in the darkness but gave up the attempt after being shot at several times.

When Chester awoke he had a splitting headache and complained of severe bruises on his side and leg, but no bones were broken. He explained briefly that when he and Joan reached the edge of the compound he was struck on the head and became unconscious. He had an indistinct recollection of crawling away afterwards through a world that seemed to be filled with shooting stars, and that was all he remembered.

"See if you can get the gang back on their job, Keith," he said. "If we don't take a grip on them now there may be the devil to pay soon. They're all probably hiding, scared of what's coming to them."