Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1888 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VI. Exploration.--Signs of white men.--Turtle, fish, and cocoanuts.--Surprised by natives.--A bkhe-de-mer fisher. --Four months' work.--Uncanny joking.--A sinful compact.-- Saving the dollars.--Moonlight dance.-- One day more and go home.--That good white man. --"What kind of song this evening?"--"Sold the cargo?" "No; sold the niggers."--A cheating old hand.--Piratical thoughts.--Arrive at Jaluit.--Signs of Sunday.--Schooner sold.--" Good-bye, boss."--A reappearance.--Good advice.--Bruce reformed.--Steal the ship.--Off for Fiji. The next morning I set to work to look round and see what the new place was like, and I soon found that I was not the first white man who had been there, for on the other side of the island I came across some large iron kettles and small open huts, and in amongst the trees, in the shade, close alongside a big pool of fresh water, from which the pretty little stream on the other side ran, was a rough-built wooden house, with a big padlock on the door. "Wonder what's in there?" I said to myself; and before long I knew, for I broke the lock and went in. There I found all sorts of things belonging to white men--knives, fish lines, hooks, clothes, and what was better than all, a cask or two of good biscuit, and a keg of salt horse. Whoever the owners were, I could see that they had not long left the place, as everything looked so fresh. I determined to take up my quarters here; so I went to the place where I first landed, to bring round the boat, and that same night I slept like a Christian, in a house, with a good bellyful, and quite comfortable. I stopped on those three islands, I think, for about four months, with plenty to eat and drink, and nothing to do, and no great hope of getting away. The fish were...
