AN ISLAND EXISTENCE 77 



pending the re^sults of the auction sale which, as you probably 

 have been told,"— the smile broadened again— "is customary 

 with shipwrecked goods. The government retains one third of 

 the proceeds, the salvoys an equal amount and the remainder 

 is divided between the agent and yourselves. Possibly you will 

 realize enough to secure passage home." 



Filled with dismay at this turn of events I drew a sheaf of 

 papers containing some correspondence relative to the expedi- 

 tion between the Colonial Secretary in Nassau and the Secre- 

 tary of State in Washington. 



"Here, do these alter the situation in any way?" 



The Commissioner read them gravely and without a change 

 of expression handed them back. 



"I'm sorry, but until I communicate with the Government 

 in Nassau, I will be forced to hold your materials. You are free 

 to go now if you wish." 



We strode to the door and out into the street. 



"Well, what do we do now?" asked Coleman. 



I replied that I did not have the faintest idea but thought 

 that inasmuch as there was not much else in prospect we might 

 as well find a place to camp. We had to sleep somewhere and 

 until the Commissioner saw fit to release our equipment we had 

 to make the best of a bad situation. 



We turned up a long straight street bordered with ruined 

 houses. The idlers dropped behind, that is, all except one who 

 followed at a rapid pace. He called to us and we stopped and 

 waited. 



The man came closer, a sallow thin-faced fellow with bare 

 scarred feet who introduced himself as D'arvril. He said he had 

 something to show us, something very beautiful. Clutched in 

 his hand was a tightly bound handkerchief. Carefully he un- 

 wrapped the cloth. Nestling in its folds was a tiny round object, 

 an ovoid that shimmered with an iridescent gleam— a pink pearl. 



