344 WITH THE U. S. NATURALISTS 



Shan wondered. 



If these people were here on honest business, 

 why should they be afraid of a small tent? 



The answer came with a burst of certainty to 

 the boy's lips, 



''Plume pirates!" 



They had devastated Laysan the season before, 

 now, this year, they were come to do the same 

 to Lysianski. 



Shan slipped back to his tent and got out his 

 rifle, then returned to the beach. 



The boat, after a considerable delay, came for- 

 ward slowly. 



' ' Who 's there ? ' ' cried Shan. 



A confused murmuring was the only reply. 

 The boat still came on. 



"Who's there?" cried the boy again. "An- 

 swer, or I fire ! ' ' 



Again that confused murmur. 



Eaising the muzzle, so that the shot would go 

 wide of the boat, Shan set finger to trigger and 

 fired. 



The shot rang in the silence of the night like 

 a cannon, and the Albatrosses and Terns, startled 

 at the sound, wheeled from their nests with hoarse 

 cries. 



