But ere the landing-party gained the sh.o.r.e, not a living savage was to be seen. Panic-stricken they fled to the far side of the island, where they embarked in their canoes.
"We"re too late, it seems," remarked the lieutenant in charge, as he gazed upon the devastated scene.
"Those brutes were running from up yonder, sir," observed a petty-officer, pointing towards the upper terrace. "Maybe there"s someone up there among the rocks."
"Party, fall in!" ordered the officer, and giving the word to march, he led the way over the open ground, which was littered by the victims of the _Blazer"s_ fire.
"Strike me; wot"s this?" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the petty-officer, as four battered specimens of humanity appeared above the crest of a rise of ground and floundered painfully towards their rescuers, who gave them a hearty cheer.
"We were certainly in the nick of time," remarked Commander Bulwark, as, five hours later, Mr. McKay and the three lads were seated in the _Blazer"s_ wardroom. "We received a telegraphic message from Tahiti while we were lying off Suva, to the effect that a French trader reported that she had communicated with British castaways; but was unable, owing to the high seas that were running, to render a.s.sistance.
So we came at full speed, and, I am glad to say, with fortunate results. We are leaving here to-morrow for Sydney. I suppose you don"t object to being landed there?"
"By no means," replied Mr. McKay. "I think we"ve had enough of the island to last us a lifetime."
In a few words Mr. McKay told the commander of the finding of the treasure, and how it was hidden under the floor of the house.
"Treasure, eh? Well, you"re lucky in more than one way. There are plenty of islands in the Pacific where treasure is supposed to be hidden. We usually regard these stories as a myth, but you"ve evidently proved that such things do exist. Let me congratulate you once again. I"ll send ash.o.r.e at once."
Before nightfall the treasure chests were conveyed safely on board the cruiser.
The bluejackets also placed a pile of stones over the grave of the brave mulatto, a simple inscription setting forth his name and the manner of his death; while for the benefit of possible future castaways, a paper giving particulars of the stores deposited in the treasure cave was placed in an air-tight case and lashed to a post in a conspicuous position on the sh.o.r.e.
Shortly after daybreak on the following day Mr. McKay and the three lads watched from the p.o.o.p of the _Blazer_ the rapidly receding land which for so many months had been their home; and in silence they stood gazing with wistful eyes till the summit of the peak of McKay"s Island sank beneath the horizon.
THE END