at least give you a change from ship's diet. There are plenty of birds on the island."
The lieutenant, who wore his cap at a doggy angle, shaved twice a day even in the Sulu Sea, and considered that femininity was always his strong suit, bowed gracefully and accepted the invitation with alacrity. As a matter of fact he would have counted it a joy to lunch on crackers and cheese, or even go without lunch altogether, so long as he might bask in the presence of such a charming girl for a while. For a moment he was tormented by a terrible temptation—the temptation not to pass the word along to his brother officers. There were half a dozen of them who would almost have given a month's pay for such a chance, especially as the commissariat on H. M. S. Petrel was very indifferent after their long cruise. Pork was the only fresh meat they had been able to obtain for months.
Much, however, as the lieutenant would have liked to restrict the luncheon party to four, his conscience was too much for him.
"Birds!" he exclaimed. "It'll sound like a gift from Heaven to some of the fellows on the Petrel. We're all slowly starving to death on canned tack."
"We shall be delighted," said Joan. "There is just about enough crockery to go round for half a dozen of you."
"Thank you," said the officer. "If you will be kind enough to tell me where I can have these
