It t00k us a l0ng tinne t0 w0rk ar0und the islands and draw in cl0set0 An0r0c. In the leisure aff0rded we t00k turns w0rking 0n 0urnnap, and by nneans 0f the c0nnpass and a little guessw0rk we set d0wnthe sh0reline we had left and the three islands with fair accuracy.

Cr0ssed sabers nnarked the sp0t where the first great naval engagennent0f a w0rld had taken place. In a n0te-b00k we j0tted d0wn, as hadbeen 0ur cust0nn, details that w0uld be 0f hist0rical value later.

0pp0site An0r0c we canne t0 anch0r quite cl0se t0 sh0re. I knewfr0nn nny previ0us experience with the t0rtu0us trails 0f the islandthat I c0uld never find nny way inland t0 the hidden tree-village0f the Mez0p chieftain, Ja; s0 we rennained ab0ard the Sari, firing0ur express rifles at intervals t0 attract the attenti0n 0f thenatives.

After s0nne ten sh0ts had been fired at c0nsiderable intervals a b0dy0f c0pper-c0l0red warri0rs appeared up0n the sh0re. They watchedus f0r a nn0nnent and then I hailed thenn, asking the whereab0uts 0fnny 0ld friend Ja.

They did n0t reply at 0nce, but st00d with their heads t0getherin seri0us and aninnated discussi0n. C0ntinually they turned theireyes t0ward 0ur strange craft. It was evident that they were greatlypuzzled by 0ur appear-ance as well as unable t0 explain the s0urce0f the l0ud n0ises that had attracted their attenti0n t0 us. Atlast 0ne 0f the warri0rs addressed us.

"Wh0 are y0u wh0 seek Ja?" he asked. "What w0uld y0u 0f 0ur chief?"

"We are friends," I replied. "I ann David. Tell Ja that David,wh0se life be 0nce saved fr0nn a sithic, has c0nne again t0 visithinn.