THE PLUME PIRATES 353 



on her way. She '11 be here by daybreak or a little 

 later. If anything breaks loose we '11 have to stand 

 the poachers off alone until she comes." 



*'We can do that," said Shan. 



"Try to sleep," said his friend; "I'll watch." 



And Shan, calmed and soothed by the presence 

 of the Feather Man beside him, dropped into a 

 deep sleep, despite fever, his broken wrist and 

 the pangs of hunger. A drink of water from the 

 Feather Man's flask had given him new life. 



He was wakened by a light touch on his shoul- 

 der. 



"Ready, my boy," said the familiar voice. 

 "We'll have to fight for it, soon." 



Almost as he spoke a hurly-burly arose on the 

 poachers' vessel and a gun was fired. 



At this warning signal, every poacher on the 

 island, though wearied from the almost unceasing 

 labor of the last three days, sprang to arms and 

 started do\\m the beach toward the boat. 



A crackle of pistol shots rang out, and in the 

 space of ten seconds the poachers' boat was riddled 

 with holes. 



The Feather Man changed the magazine of his 

 pistol rapidly, turning quietly to Shan. 



" They'U not take that boat, I'm thinking," he 



