262 TROPIC DAYS 



and as industrious as a scrub hen. Mammerroo saw 

 visions of mouth-organs, one of which was sure to 

 contain the coveted tune. Little deaf Antony thought 

 of tobacco unlimited, a silver-mounted pipe, and plenty 

 of unforbidden rum. Indeed, most of the boys con- 

 tented themselves with these ingredients to fill the cup 

 of happiness. But big lazy Johnnie's fancy went to 

 a small jockey's cap of red and yellow, to be worn with 

 a football jersey of orange and green in stripes, and blue 

 trousers. This gorgeous costume was to compensate for 

 present pains and humiliation, for he had nothing but 

 a scanty and dirty loin-cloth, a necklace of grass beads, 

 and a chip of lustrous black-lip pearl-shell stuck in 

 one ear. As they worked they let their fancies range, 

 and thus was the toil eased and the bags of dried fish 

 safely stowed in the hold. With twenty-eight bags 

 in prime condition, the Nautilus sailed out to intercept 

 the steamer the Lava Kava. The honest stuff was 

 sent off to the agent at the Island post, and back the 

 stout little vessel went to the reef. 



"As good as a gold-mine," said Breezy Jim, who 

 every day became breezier, so that he threatened to 

 develop into a gale of good-humour. 



"Better than splitting coco-nuts at the Mission 

 Station," said Billy Boolah. 



"Do you ever feel like chucking Mammerroo over- 

 board now ?" 



Another fortnight saw another big load on the way 

 to the agents. Mammerroo poured out his soul in 

 fervency over the limping phrases of his besetting tune, 

 and even Boisterous Jim applauded his persistency. 



"That boy will catch 'The Last Rose of Summer' 

 some day if the mouth-organ market holds out. I'll 

 give him the best to be got in Cooktown, and I'm 

 bothered if I don't teach him the tune !" 



