There are plenty more handkerchiefs on the cocoa-nut trees." Poor Peterkin! with what pleasant feelings I recall and record his jests and humorous sayings now! While we were thus engaged, we were startled by a distant but most strange and horrible cry.

It seemed to come from the sea, but was so far away that we could not clearly distinguish its precise direction.

Rushing out of our bower, we hastened down to the beach and stayed to listen.
Again it came quite loud and distinct on the night air,--a prolonged, hideous cry, something like the braying of an ass.

The moon had risen, and we could see the islands in and beyond the lagoon quite plainly, but there was no object visible to account for such a cry.

A strong gust of wind was blowing from the point whence the sound came, but this died away while we were gazing out to sea.
"What can it be ?" said Peterkin, in a low whisper, while we all involuntarily crept closer to each other.
"Do you know," said Jack, "I have heard that mysterious sound twice before, but never so loud as to-night.