He could not make out all this in the least, but he determined to say nothing and wait for more indications.
"Yes," said Schumer, "it's most important for us to keep these fellows fit and well, and tents aren't much use against the rains, especially in an exposed place like the grounds over there. Seems like Providence, doesn't it, that fellow Luckman happening along with his building material just at the moment?"
"Schumer," said Floyd, "are you sure it's all right about Luckman?"
Schumer turned on him with a surprised look. "Why, what could be wrong?"
"Well, I could have sworn I saw the _Domain_ in the harbor two days before I left."
"My dear chap," said Schumer, "you heard what he said--what could be wrong? Even if Hakluyt were to try to get the better of us in any way what could Luckman do? Steal the pearls? Well, I reckon he'd have his work cut out, considering we are two to one. No. You have made a mistake. It was the _Dominion_ you saw. Mind you, I wouldn't trust Hakluyt farther than I could see him, but it's against common sense to think that he is trying to play any game against us. You see, the crew of the _Domain_ are all Kanakas, and not fighting Kanakas, either, but a soft lot; otherwise it might be different. Then again Luckman is off to-morrow. Oh, you needn't be a bit scared of Luckman; I'm sharp enough to smell a rat, as you very well know, and I'm satisfied."
"Now as to the building business," went on Schumer, "I want all the _Southern Cross_ chaps to get to work on it first thing to-morrow, so we may as well get them over to the fishing camp to-night."
"Yes, they'll be able to stretch their legs before setting to, and they'll want to put up tents for themselves while they are working."
"Very well. I can send them over in the whaleboat."
"That will do after supper," said Schumer.
The sun at this moment was just setting beyond the reef, and a thin wreath of smoke was rising near the grove where Isbel was busy lighting the fire and getting supper ready. Luckman was seated on the sand, near the house, smoking and seemingly oblivious to everything but the beauty of the scene before him.
The crew of the _Southern Cross_ were fraternizing across the water with the crew of the _Domain_. Their thin, high-pitched voices came across the lagoon water and mixed with the crying of the gulls who were flocking around the vessels, picking up scraps from the rubbish that the fellows had hove overboard. Then, as the sun sank, the crying of the gulls died down and silence fell on the island with the night, a silence only broken by the song of the surf and the blowing of the night wind in the foliage of the grove.