 Chapter 17 of The Pirate Island, a story of the South Pacific by Harry Collingwood. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Bob wants to be rich. The problem as to the working of the goldmine being so far satisfactorily solved, it only remained to ascertain how the arrangements would answer when put into practice. And this the ladies did without loss of time. Their plan was that one of them should remain at home to look after Bob in Little May, while the other two devoted a few hours of the day to the cave. As they took it in turns to remain at home in the capacity of nurse, each of them had two days in the cave to one at the cottage. In the meantime, thanks to Lance's skill and the careful nursing of the ladies, Bob was making steady progress toward recovery, and within a month of the occurrence of his accident was beginning to ask how much longer he was going to be kept a prisoner. He had been made aware of the gold discovery by occasional references to it on the part of the others in his presence, but he had never heard the complete story. So one day, when it was Blanche's turn to remain at home, he asked her to give him the entire history, which she did. He listened most attentively, and when the story was over remained silent, apparently wrapped in profound thought for several minutes. Looking up at last, with a flush of excitement on his face, he exclaimed, Why, there must be gold enough there to make millionaires of every one of us. Yes, said Blanche, I believe there is. At least, Lent, Mr. Evelyn, says so, and I have no doubt he knows. Oh, yes, exclaimed Bob enthusiastically. He knows. I believe he knows everything, and what a splendid fellow he is. Isn't he Miss LaCelle? This last, with a sly twinkle in his roguish eye. Blanche appeared to think it unnecessary to comment upon or reply to this remark. At all events, she remained silent. But the window curtain somehow needed adjustment just at that moment, and the haste with which she rose to attend to this little matter, or something else, caused a most lovely pink flush to overspread her cheeks. Bob saw it. Perhaps he knew exactly what caused it. But if he did, he was too much of a gentleman to show that he had noticed it. So when Blanche had adjusted the curtain to her satisfaction, he remarked with a heavy sigh. Oh, dear, I wish I was well enough to be out and at work again. I long to have the handling of some of that gold. You must have patience, Robert, said Blanche. The worst part of your illness is now over, and in due time you will no doubt be able to take your share of the work once more. But whether such is the case or not, you may rest satisfy that you will have your share of the gold. Whatever there may be, whether it be much or little, I know the gentleman have decided that it shall be divided equally among us, even to little May. I am sure it's very kind of them, said Bob, with a touch of impatience in his tone. But I want to be up and able to work at it, to gather it in and see it accumulate. I want to be a really rich man. For shame, Robert, said Blanche, with just the faintest feeling of disgust, the first she had ever experienced toward Bob. If you talk like that, I shall leave you. I am disappointed in you. I should never have suspected you of being mercenary. Well, I am, then, returned Bob, quite unabashed. I am mercenary, if that means being anxious to be rich. And so would you be, Miss LaCelle, if you had seen as much misery as I have, misery too, which could be cured by the judicious expenditure of comparatively trifling sums of money. Only think how jolly it would be to go up to every poor, hungry man, woman, and child you met, clap a sovereign in their hands and say there, go and enjoy the luxury of a good unstinted meal for once in your life. But a rich man's power goes a great deal further than that. If ever I am rich, I shall not be satisfied with the bestowal of relief of such a very temporary kind as a solitary meal amounts to. I shall hunt up some really deserving cases and put them in the way of earning their own livings. Real relief consists, to my mind, of nothing short of the stretching out of a helping hand and lifting some poor soul clean out of that miserable state where one's very existence depends upon the fluctuating charity of one's fellow creatures. I've seen it, and I know what it means. There's any amount of real misery to be met with in the neighborhood of the docks, I, and all over London, for that matter. If one only chooses to keep one's eyes open. Of course, I know that many of the beggars and match sellers and people of that kind are rank loafers, too idle to work even when they have the chance. People who spend and drink every penny that's given them. And in my opinion, they richly deserve all the misery they suffer. But there are plenty of others who would be only too happy to work if they could, and they are the people I should seek out and help. The poor women and children, you know. It makes me fairly sick, I give you my word, Miss Lacelle, when I think of the vast sums of money that are squandered every year in ways which leave nothing to show for the expenditure. Take gambling, for instance. I've heard that thousands of pounds are lost every year at card playing and horse racing. The money only changes hands, I know. But what good does it do? If a man can afford a part with a thousand pounds in such a way, how much better it would be for him and everybody else if he would expend it in furnishing a certain number of persons with the means to earn their own living. I don't believe it's right for people to squander and waste their money. I believe that money is given to people in trust, and that everybody will have to answer for the way in which they discharge that trust. Don't you, Miss Lacelle? Certainly I do, Robert, answered Blanche very gravely. But I must admit that I have never until now viewed the matter in the serious light in which you put it. I must beg your pardon, and I do most sincerely for the way in which I spoke to you just now. I had no idea that you had any such good reasons as you have given for desiring to be rich. But what would you be able to do single-handed, no matter how rich you might be? Ah, ejaculated Bob with a gesture of impatience. That's just what everybody says. And that's exactly where the mischief lies. They don't do anything because they can't do everything and because they can't get others to join them. But I shouldn't look at it like that. I should just do my duty, whether other people did theirs or not. If others choose to shirk their duty, it is their own lookout. It affords no excuse for me to shirk mine. But there, it's no use for me to talk like this. Perhaps I never shall be rich. The gold is there, you say, but that is a very different thing from having it banked in England. How do they think they are going to get it away from the island without discovery? You may depend upon it that whenever we go, it will be all in a hurry. Blanche explained Captain Stoughton's plan as to the carrying off of the gold, but Bob shook his head dubiously. It is a capital plan, I admit, he said, but its success depends upon everything turning out exactly as arranged. And you mark my words. Things won't turn out that way at all. They never do. Will you do me a favor, Miss LaCelle? Certainly I will, Robert, provided, of course, that it is in my power, answered Blanche. Thank you, said Bob. You can do it easily enough. Bring home here, and get the other ladies to do the same every day when you return from the cavern, as many nuggets as you can conveniently carry. Say, two or three pounds weight each of you, you know, and hand them over to me. I'll contrive to find a safe hiding place for them, and when the moment comes for us to be off, I'll see that they go with us if such a thing is at all possible. Then we shall not be quite destitute if, after all, we have to leave the heap in the cave behind us. But don't say anything about this to the gentleman. Captain Stanton might not like it if he heard that I doubted the practicability of his plan. Blanche readily gave the desired promise, and there the matter ended for the time. Meanwhile, the work went steadily forward at the shipyard, and by the time that Bob was once more able to go on duty, the framework of the schooner was complete, and the planking had been begun, whilst the battery was in so forward a state that another fortnight would see it ready to receive the guns. Rally was in a high state of delight, but Bob had not been at work many days before he discovered that things were no longer as they had been when he received his hurt. The Greek had never been courteous in his behaviour to the Galatea party, but now he was downright insolent, and his insolence seemed to increase every day. At the outset of the work the gentleman of the party, that is to say Captain Stanton, Lance, and Rex, had been required to look on and direct the progress of the work only, but now Lance was the only one to whom this privilege was granted, a privilege which he scorned to accept unshared by the others, and accordingly when Bob once more joined the working party, he found his friends with their coats off and sleeves rolled up to the shoulders, performing the same manual labour as the rest. Seeing this, he of course did the same, and thus they all continued to work until the end came. Bob was greatly surprised at this state of things, so much so that he sought an early opportunity to inquire of Lance the meaning of it. Neither Lance nor anyone else in the party were, however, able to give any explanation of it. All they could say with regard to the affair was that Raleigh had been gradually growing more insolent and tyrannical in his treatment of them, until matters had reached the then existing unpleasant stage. But he was earnestly cautioned by Captain Stanton not to mention a word respecting it to the ladies, as it was extremely desirable that they should be kept for as long a time as possible quite free from all anxiety of every kind. But can nothing be done to make this fellow mend his behaviour, inquired Bob of the Skipper, as they separated from the rest of the working party, and walked toward the cottage, unlanding from the boats that night? I fear not, was the reply. While the schooner and the battery were still to be built, we had the man to some extent in our power. But now that the battery is so near completion, and the hull of the schooner fully modelled, he is independent of us, and he has sense enough to know it. His own people are quite capable of finishing off the schooner now that her framework is complete, so that threats on our part would be useless, nay, worse than useless, since they would only irritate him and lead to increasing severity toward us. Bob lay awake a long time that night, quite satisfied that the time had arrived when something ought to be done, but what that something should be he puzzled his brain in vain to discover. About a fortnight after this a serious accident occurred at the shipyard, or rather at the battery. This structure was now so far advanced that it was ready to receive the guns which were intended to be mounted in it. The armament was to consist of six twenty-four pounder iron muzzle loaders of the ordinary old fashion type, to which Johnson had helped himself in some raid on the Spanish-American coast. And on the morning in question a gang of men was told off to hoist these guns up the cliff into the battery. Lance had, as a matter of course, undertaken the supervision of this operation, but the work had hardly commenced when Raleigh made his appearance on the scene, announcing his intention to himself direct operations at the battery, and roughly ordering Lance to return at once to his work on the schooner. And to be quick about it too, or he, Raleigh, would freshen his way. Evelyn of course returned at once to the shipyard without condescending to bandy words with the Greek, and the work went forward as usual. Raleigh soon had a pair of shears rigged, and in due time one of the guns was slung ready for hoisting. Lance had been watching Raleigh's operations, first with curiosity, and afterwards with anxiety, for he soon saw that the man knew nothing whatever about handling heavy guns. He now saw that the gun which was about to be hoisted was wrongly slung, and that an accident was likely enough to result. So, forgetting his former rebuff, he threw down his tools, and hurried to the place where the men were working about the gun, and told them to cast off the slings. You have slung it wrong, lads, said he, and unless you are very careful some of you will be hurt. Cast off the slings, and I will show you the proper way to do it. The men, accustomed to working under his directions, were about to do as he bade them when Raleigh looked over the parapet and angrily ordered them to leave the lashings as they were, and to sway away the gun. As for you, Mr. Soldier, he said, shaking his fist at Lance, you have left your work contrary to my orders, and I will seize you up to a grading and give you five dozen tonight as a lesson to you. Now go. Lance turned on his heel and walked away. Things had come to a crisis at last, he thought, and he began to wonder how the crisis was to be met. Upon one thing he was quite resolved, and that was that he would never submit to the indignity of the lash. Raleigh might kill him if he chose, but flog him never. His somber meditations were brought to an abrupt ending by a sudden crash accompanied by a shout of consternation in the direction of the battery. Looking that way he saw the tackle dangling empty from the shears, with the lower block about halfway up the cliff face, and at the base of the cliff were the men grouped closely together about some object which was hidden by their bodies. Only one of the men left the rest and ran toward the shipyard shouting for help. There has been an accident, thought Lance. The gun has slipped from the slings, and likely enough somebody has killed. Muster all the crowbars and hand-spike she-can lads, said he, and take them over to the battery. There has been an accident, I fear. A strong relief gang was soon on the spot, only to find Lance's fears confirmed. The gun had been hoisted nearly halfway up the cliff when the guide rope had fouled a rock. The armorer had stepped forward to clear it, and in doing so had given it a jerk which had canted the gun in its slings, and before the unfortunate man had realized his danger the gun had slipped and fallen upon him, crushing both his legs to a jelly. There was an immediate outcry among the men for Lance, an outcry which Rowley would have checked if he could, but his first attempt to do so showed him that the men were now in a temper which would render it highly dangerous for him to persist. So he gave in with the best grace he could muster, and ordered one of the men to fetch Evelyn to the spot. On receiving the message, Lance of course at once flung down his tools and hastened to the assistance of the injured man. When he reached the scene of the catastrophe he found all hands, Rowley included, crowded around the prostrate gun, and everybody giving orders at the same time, everybody excited, and everything in a state of the direst confusion. As he joined the group, Rowley stepped forward with a smile on his lips, which in no wise cloaked his chagrin at being obliged to yield to the demands of the men, and began, You see, Mr. Soldier, we cannot do without you, it seems after all. Just lend the men a hand to, but Lance brushed past him without daining the slightest notice, and pushing his way through the crowd, called upon a few of the men by name to assist him in relieving the unfortunate armorer from the ponderous weight of the gun, which still lay upon the poor fellow's mangled limbs. Such implicit confidence had these men in him prisoner among them though he was, that his mere presence suffice to restore them to order, and in a few minutes the armorer, ghastly pale, and with every nerve quivering from the excruciating pain of his terrible injuries, was safely withdrawn from beneath the gun. Now, make a stretcher, some of you, ah, Dickinson, you are the man for this job. Just make a stretcher, my good fellow, the same sort of thing that you made for the lad Bob, you know, and let's get our patient into a boat as quickly as possible, I can do nothing with him here, said Lance. Aye, aye, sir, answered Dickinson promptly, and away he went with two or three more men to set about the work, Lance, plying the injured man frequently with small doses of rum, meanwhile. Raleigh stood upon the outskirts of the crowd, angrily watching the proceedings. He could not shut his eyes to the fact of Lance's popularity with the men, and he vowed within himself that he would make him pay dearly for it before the day was done, even if he were compelled to seize him up and flog him himself. The stretcher was soon ready, and the armorer, having been placed upon it, was carried as carefully as possible down to the boat. As the procession passed the shipyard, Lance beckoned to Captain Stanton, saying, I shall need your assistance in this case, it will be a case of amputation unless I am greatly mistaken, and if so, I shall require the help of someone upon whose nerve I can depend. Captain Stanton, upon this, hurried back for his coat and rejoined Lance just as the party was on the point of embarking in the boat. As the men propelled the craft swiftly across the bay, Lance related in a loud tone to the skipper Raleigh's behavior during the morning and his threat. They were still discussing the matter anxiously together when Dickinson, who was pulling stroke-or and who doubtless guessed from catching a stray word or two what was the subject of their conversation, broke in upon their conference by inquiring of Lance whether he thought the armorer would recover. It is impossible to say yet, answered Lance cautiously. Of course, we shall do our best for him, poor fellow, but he will require more attention than I fear Raleigh will allow me to give him. If that's all, remarked Dickinson, I think you needn't trouble yourself, sir. The Greek knows too well what he's about to interfere with you when it comes to doctoring an injured man, a man as was hurt too all along of his own pride and obscenity. And as to that other matter, the flogging, you know, sir, axing your pardon for speaking about it so plain, sir. Don't you trouble yourself about that? He shan't lay a hand upon you while me and my mates can prevent it, shall he mates? No, that he shan't, Bo, was the eager answer. No, he shan't, coincided Dickinson. We can't do much to help you, you see, sir, he added, because, worst luck, we don't all think alike upon some things, but we've only got to say the word to the rest of the hands, and I knows as they won't hear of you being flogged. There isn't one of us, but what respects you, sir, but what respects you, gentlemen, both, for that matter. You've always had a good word for everybody, and that goes a long way with sailors sometimes, further than a glass of grog, and you may make your mind easy that the Greek won't be led to, to, you know what, sir. Thank you, Dickinson, said Lance, without stretched hand. Thank you with all my heart. You have relieved me of a heavy load of anxiety, for, to tell you the truth, I had quite made up my mind not to submit to the indignity, and if Raleigh attempts to carry out his threat, it will probably lead to precipitate action on our part, which at the present time would be simply disastrous. So twid, sir, so twid, agreed Dickinson. You needn't say another word, sir, we understand, only we'd liked you to know, sir, and this here is a very good opportunity for us to say it, that whenever the time comes, you may reckon upon all hands of us in this here boat. How do you mean, ejaculated Lance, considerably startled? I really do not understand you. Oh, it's all right, sir, returned Dickinson cheerfully. We weren't born yesterday, narrow one of us, and you don't suppose as we believe you're all settled down to stay here for the rest of your natural lives, do you? Lord, bless you, sir, we knows you must have got some planning in your heads for getting away out of this here hole, and the long and short of it is this. When you're ready to go, we are ready to lend you a hand, providing you'll take us with you. We're sick and tired of this here cursed pirating business, we want to get away out of it, and we've been talking it over, me and my mates, and we've made up our minds that you're starting to be off one of these fine days, and we'd like to go with you, if you'll have us. We want to give the world another trial, and see if we can't end our days as honest men, ain't that it, mates? Aye aye, Bill, that's it, and no mistake, you've put it to the gentleman just exactly as we wanted it. What you says, we'll say, and whatever promises you makes, we'll keep them. We want another chance, and we hope that if so be as these here gentlemen are thinking of topping their booms out of this, they'll just take us along with them, replied the man who was pulling the bow or the others also murmuring innocent. But what makes you think we have an idea of affecting our escape, and how many others of you have the same opinion, inquired Captain Stanton? Well, I don't know as I can rightly say what makes us think so, but we do, answered Dickinson. Perhaps it's because you've took things so quiet and cheerful like, as to how many more of us thinks the same as we do, why, I can't say, I'm sure. I've only spoke about it to some half a dozen or so that I knowed would be glad of a chance to leave, like myself. Well, said Captain Stanton after a pause. I really do not think we can say anything to you, either one way or another, just now. What you have just said has been so utterly unexpected that we must have time to think and talk the matter over among ourselves. But I think we may perhaps be able to say something definite to you tomorrow in answer to your proposition. Don't you think so, Evelyn? I think so, answered Lance. Very well then, said the Skipper. Let the matter rest until tomorrow, and we will then tell you our decision. In the meantime, it must be understood that none of you say a word to anyone else upon the subject until you have our permission. A promise to this effect was readily given by each of the men, and then the matter dropped, the boat shortly afterwards reaching the landing place at the bottom of the bay. The armorer was at once taken out of the boat and carried by Lance's directions up to the building in which he slept. The miserable man was by this time in a dreadfully exhausted condition, but on the arrival of the medicine chest, Lance mixed him a powerful stimulating draft under the influence of which he revived so much that Evelyn felt himself justified in attempting the operation of amputation. This, with Captain Stalton's assistance, was speedily and successfully performed, after which the patient was placed in his hammock, and Lance sat himself down near at hand, announcing his intention of watching by the poor fellow until next morning. The operation successfully performed, Dickinson and his three companions returned to the shipyard, maintaining an animated and anxious consultation on the way. The result of this consultation was that when the four men resumed work, they had a great deal to say after answering numberless, anxious inquiries as to the state of the wounded man upon the subject of Raleigh's treatment of Lance and his threat to flog him. They denounced this conduct as not only unjust, but also impolitic to the last degree, dwelling strongly upon the unadvisability of offending a man so skilled as Lance in medicine and surgery, and impressing their audience with the necessity for discouraging, and if necessary, interfering to prevent the carrying out of the threat. And as sailors are very much like sheep, where one jumps, the rest jump also, they had not much difficulty in arranging for a general demonstration of popular disapproval in the event of Raleigh's attempting the threatened indignity. Fortunately for himself, fortunately also, in all probability, for those in whom we are chiefly interested, he allowed the affair to pass over. In going about among the workers that day, he overheard enough to feel assured that, for the moment at all events, he was an unpopular man, and as among such turbulent spirits as those with whom he had to deal, unpopularity means loss of power. His own common sense suggested to him the extreme impolicy of pitting himself against them while they continued in so antagonistic a mood. But he was quite resolved that if he could not have, in one way, what he called his revenge, he would have it in another. And from that day forward, his insolence and tyranny of demeanor toward Lance and his friends grew more and more marked. Until at length, it became so unbearable that they were driven to the very verge of desperation. Meanwhile, Lance, sitting there watching his patient, soon saw that he was about to have his hands full. The hectic flush of fever began to chase away the deadly pallor from the sufferer's cheek. His eyes glittered and sparkled like coals of fire. And as feeling began to return to his hitherto benumbed limbs, and the smart of his recent operation made itself felt, he tossed restlessly in his hammock, tormented with an unquenchable thirst. Water, water, he muttered. For the love of God, give me water. Lance gave him some in a tin panicking. In an instant, the vessel was glued to the unfortunate man's lips. And in another instant, it was drained to the last drop. More, give me more, he gasped, as soon as he had recovered his breath. But this Lance declined to do. Bidding the poor fellow be patient for a few minutes, he went to the medicine chest and mixed him a cooling draft. This also was swallowed with avidity. And then the armor lay quiet for a few minutes. Not for long, however. He soon began to toss restlessly about once more. And by the time that the hands returned from their day's work at the shipyard, he was in a raging fever, raving mad, in fact. And Lance was at last compelled to have him laced up in his hammock to prevent him from doing himself a serious injury. Lance Evelyn will probably remember that night as long as he lives. In the delirium of the fierce fever which consumed him, the unhappy armorer was visited by visions of all the evil deeds of his past life. And Lance's blood curdled in his veins as he listened to his patient's disjointed ravings of murder, raping, and cold-blooded cruelty of so revolting a character that he wondered how any human mind could conceive it in the first instance and how, after it had been conceived, human hands could bring themselves to perpetrate it. And then the man's guilty conscience awakened from its long torpor and, acting upon his excited imagination, conjured up a thousand frightful punishments awaiting him. He writhed, he groaned, he uttered the most frightful curses, and then in the same breath shrieked for forgiveness and mercy. It was perfectly appalling. Even his comrades, those who had shared with him in the dreadful deeds about which he raved, found the scene too trying for their hardened and blunted feelings. And such of them as had their hammocks slung in the same dormitory, abandoned them and slept in the open air, rather than remain to have their souls harrowed by his dreadful utterances. This terrible state of things existed until the afternoon of the following day, rather more than 24 hours after he had received his injuries. And then the fever subsided, but only to leave the once powerful man in the last stage of exhaustion. So completely prostrate was he that he had no power to so much as lift his hand, and he was only able to speak in the mirrored whisper. Now was the time when all Lance's skill was most urgently required. Fagged as he was by his long night of watching, he tended his patient with the most unremitting assiduity, to administering tonics and stimulants every few minutes and racking his brain for devices by which he might help the man to tide over this period of extreme prostration. But it was all of no avail. The poor fellow gradually sank into a state of stupor from which all Evelyn's skill was unable to arouse him. And at length, about eight o'clock in the evening, after a temporary revival during which all the terrors of death once more assailed him, his guilty soul passed away without opportunity for repentance, prayers and curses issuing from his lips in horrible confusion up to the last moment of his existence. His death was witnessed by several of his companions in crime. And while some had tried to laugh and scoff away the unwelcome impression which the scene produced upon their minds, there were others who went into the open air and wandered away by themselves to ponder upon this miserable ending of a crime-stained life. End of Chapter 17. Chapter 18 of The Pirate Island, a story of the South Pacific by Harry Collinwood. This liberal box recording is in the public domain. Alarm and disaster. Lance's long and fatiguing watch beside the deathbed of the unfortunate armorer, of course delayed to some extent, Captain Stanton's reply to the suggestion which Dickinson had made on behalf of himself and certain of his comrades. But the skipper had to save time, discuss the matter with the rest of the party, coming to the conclusion that they would be quite justified under the circumstances in accepting the services of these men. And on the morning following the armorer's death, Lance having enjoyed a good night's rest, his opinion was taken upon the question with the view of giving the men an answer forthwith. Evelyn listened attentively to everything that was said and then remarked, well, gentlemen, I quite agree with you that the assistance which the men have it in their power to afford us would be most valuable. It would clear away a good many of our difficulties and would go a long way toward ensuring success in our endeavor to escape. An endeavor which I must confess, I have always secretly regarded with a considerable amount of doubt and misgiving. It has always presented itself to me as an undertaking of a decidedly desperate character and now it appears more so than ever having regard to the very disagreeable change in Raleigh's treatment of us. The only question in my mind is one of duty, duty to our country and to the world at large. We must not forget that the men who now come to us with offers of assistance are men who have in the past outraged every law human and divine and justice demands that they shall be delivered up to punishment. Now, if we accept their services, we certainly cannot afterwards denounce them. It would be ranked treachery on our part. How do you propose to overcome this difficulty? We have thought of that, replied Captain Stanton. It is the only question which has bothered us and for my own part, I can only see one solution of it. No word has, it is true, been said by them as to our keeping their secret but I think there can be no doubt that such a stipulation was intended to be understood and in any case, I fully agree with you that we cannot just avail ourselves of their assistance and afterwards hand them over to the authorities. My view of the case is this, here we are in what is beyond all doubt a most desperate scrape. A chance and a very slight chance it is offers for our escape and most opportunity these men come forward with an offer of assistance. If we let slip this slight chance it is extremely doubtful whether we shall ever have another and that I imagine taking into account the future possibilities of evil in store for the helpless women dependent upon us counts for something and justifies us in accepting help from almost any source. Then as regards the men themselves, it is undoubtedly true that they have committed crimes which place them quite outside the pale of human mercy if justice alone is to be considered. But for my own part, I believe that they have repented of their past misdeeds at any rate they say so and we have no reason to doubt the truth of their assertion. They ask for an opportunity to reform. They desire a chance of making amends as far as possible for the past evil of their lives. And I have an idea gentlemen that though in giving them such a chance we might not be acting in accordance with man's idea of strict justice. We should be following pretty closely upon God's idea of it. He breaks not the bruised reed nor quenches the smoking flax. And if he thus declares his readiness to give even the most doubtful and unpromising of his creatures another trial, I really do not see that we are called upon to be more strict than he is. My proposal therefore is that we should accept these men's preferred assistance, that we should do what we may be able to do for them in the way of giving them the opportunity they desire. And if justice is to overtake them, if punishment is to follow their past misdeeds, let it be due to some other agencies than ours. If God intends them to suffer punishment at the hands of their fellow creatures, he will provide the instruments never fear. But I think it far more likely he will give them another chance. I too believe he will, said Lance. You take a view of the matter which I confess with shame had not presented itself to me and I am convinced. These men have committed crimes of exceptional enormity, it is true. But it is not for us to draw the line to say to whom mercy shall be granted and from whom it shall be withheld. Therefore let us accept their offer and leave the matter of their punishment in God's hands. Thus then it was decided. And Bob, as the least likely to excite suspicion if seen in conversation with any of the pirates, was deputed to inform Dickinson that his offer and that of his mates had been accepted and to request him to call without exciting observation if possible at the cottage that evening. When the gentlemen returned home at the close of the day's work, they found Blanche and Violet in a state of considerable nervous excitement, owing, they asserted, to their having been frightened that day while at their work of gold collecting in the cavern. On being asked for a detailed account of the circumstance which had alarmed them, Violet said, we had been at work about two hours and had just reached the edge of the gulf with our second load when we were startled by hearing somewhere near us a sound like a deep, long-drawn sigh followed almost immediately afterwards by a loud moan. I have no doubt you will think us dreadful cowards but it is no use concealing the truth. We simply dropped the gold and flew back along the passage to the great cavern at our utmost speed. Arrived there, we sat down to recover ourselves and at length succeeded so far that we were both inclined to believe we had been victimized by our own imaginations. You know what an eerie place it is and how likely to excite weird fancies in the minds of nervous, timid women like ourselves. So we summoned up all our courage and went to work once more. We naturally felt somewhat reluctant to visit the scene of our fright again but we overcame the feeling and made our third journey to the chasm without experiencing any further shock to our nerves. On our fourth journey, however, we had reached the place, deposited our load and had just set out to return when the same sounds were repeated much more loudly than at first and accompanied this time by a loud prolonged hiss such as I should imagine could proceed only from some gigantic serpent. We were thoroughly terrified this time and fled once more, not only to the cavern but thence into the open air and home. I do not know how we may regard the matter in the morning but at present I really do not feel as though I could ever venture into the place again until the mystery has been solved and the cause of those terrifying sounds discovered. Of course not, said Captain Stanton. None of you must attempt to visit the cavern again until we have had an opportunity of investigating the matter. It is possible though, mind you, I don't think it at all probable that a serpent or large reptile of some kind may have made its way into the gallery and at all events, it will never do for you ladies to run the slightest risk. What do you think, Evelyn? He added, turning to Lance. Is it likely that there may be a snake or something of the sort there? Not likely, I should say, responded Lance. We have never encountered a reptile of any description, large or small, in the course of our rambles about the island. But of course there is just the bare possibility, I cannot put it any stronger than that, of a snake drifting here on an uprooted tree or large branch. I have heard of snakes being seen in the branches of trees drifting down rivers in flood time and there is no reason why under such circumstances they should not be carried clear out to sea. Whether, however, a serpent could exist long enough to make the voyage from the mainland to this island is, in my opinion, exceedingly doubtful. Still, I quite agree with you that the ladies ought not to make any further visits to the cavern until we have discovered the source of their alarm. This singular circumstance gave rise to a considerable amount of speculation among the members of the party and they were still discussing the matter when a knocking was heard at the door and in obedience to Captain Staunton's stentorian, come in, Dickinson entered. Sarvent, ladies, exclaimed the newcomer with an elaborate seascrap, then seating himself in the chair which Captain Staunton indicated, he continued, Well, Captain and gentlemen all, I've just come up, you see, in obedience to your commands of the forenoon sent through the young gentleman there, pointing to Bob, and to talk matters over as it were. That's all right, Dickinson, answered Captain Staunton. We are very glad to see you. Robert, of course, told you that we have decided to accept the assistance of yourself and such of your shipmates as are to be thoroughly relied upon. He did, sir, and right glad and thankful I was to hear it, replied Dickinson. Of course, we knowed right well, sir, how much heat we was axing of you when we offered to chime in on your side. We was just axing that you'd take us upon trust, as it were, and believe in the honesty and straightforwardness of men who always had proved their selves to be rogues and worse. But you've took us, sir, and you shan't have no cause to repent it. We're yours, heart and soul. Henceforward, we takes our orders from you, and we're ready to take any oath you like upon it. No oath is necessary, my good fellows, said Captain Staunton. Your bare word is quite sufficient. For if you intend to be faithful to us, you will be so without swearing fidelity. And if you mean to betray us, an oath would hardly stop you, I am afraid. But we do not doubt your fidelity in the least. The only thing we have any fear about is your prudence. Ah, yes, there, sir, we may fail, said Dickinson, with a mournful shake of the head. But you give your orders, sir, and we'll do our best to obey him. But before you lays your plans, I think you ought to know how things is standing among us just now. I'm greatly afraid you're like so many young bears with all your troubles before you. That Greek rascal, Raleigh, has been doing his best to stir up all hands of us against you. And particular against you, Mr. Evelyn. By saying as it was all along of you as the poor armorer lost his life, he holds as how you killed him by taking off his legs, and that you desires to be severely punished for doing of it. And there's some of the chaps as his fools enough to listen to what he says and to believe it, too. But there's me and Tom Pool and two or three more. We are going to hold out to it that you did the best you could for the poor chap, and that if it hadn't have been for Raleigh's own obscenity, the man wouldn't never have been hurt at all. And however the thing goes, you may depend upon me to give you timely warning. Thank you, Dickinson, said Captain Staunton. This information which you have just given us is most valuable and renders it all the more necessary that we should promptly mature our plans. Now, to show you how thoroughly we trust you, I will explain those plans as far as we have yet arranged them. You can then tell us what you think of them, and you will also be better able to understand in what way you and your shipmates can prove of most use to us. Well, if that don't beat all, exclaimed Dickinson, after Captain Staunton had stated their plans, to think as you should go forward to arrange to run away with the schooner herself. Why, I thought the most you'd do would be to provision and seize the launch and go off to sea in her, taking your chance of being picked up some time or another. Well, there ain't a soul amongst us, I know, as has so much as the ghost of a hidey about your taking the schooner. Some of the hand seems to have a kind of notion I found out since I spoke to you the other day, that you may try to slip off some day if you get the chance, but they just laugh at it, you know, and asks how you're to manage and how far you'd get in a boat before the schooner'd be alongside of you, and that like. But your plan's the right one, Captain. No mistake about that. And now just say what you want us chaps to do and we'll do it if it's any way possible. How many of you are there? Asked the skipper. How many I mean upon whom we can absolutely depend. Bear in mind that no one who is not thoroughly trustworthy is to be led into the secret. All right, sir, you trust me for that, answered Dickinson. For my own sake, letting alone yours and the ladies, you may depend on't I won't let out the secret to the wrong people. Well, let me just reckon up how many of us there'll be in all. Firstly, there's eight of you, counting in Mr. Bowles and Kit and leaving out the ladies. Then there's the three other lads and the four men as was brought in with you. That's seven, seven and eights. 15, interjected the skipper. Thank you, sir. I ain't much of a hand at figures myself, but in course you're right, 15 it is, said Dickinson. Then there's me and Tom Poole, that's my particular mate, promoted he is to the armorer's birth. And Dick Sullivan and Ned Masters, that's four more making 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 19 ain't it, sir? Quite right, answered Captain Staunton. Then there's the prisoners as we call them. Men, you know, sir, as has been took out of ships and wouldn't jine the brotherhood. I won't say much about them just yet, but there's about half a dozen very likely hands among them that I think will just jump at the chance of getting out of this. Tom and me will sound them cautious like and hear what they've got to say for their cells. Very well said Captain Staunton. And in the meantime, it seems that there are 19 of us all told who are to be absolutely relied upon. Quite enough to handle the schooner if we can only manage to get away with her. Now, what we have to do is this. The ballast and the water tanks are already fixed in their places so that need not trouble us, but we must contrive to get the tanks filled as early as possible. Then as soon as the decks are laid, we must get conveyed on board all the provisions we can possibly manage. Then we shall want arms and ammunition. The guns too must be hoisted in under the pretense of fitting the slides properly. The spars are already commenced. They, or at least the lower masts and bowsprit must be stepped before the craft is launched. That can easily be managed I think. The other spars also should be finished and got on board as early as possible and likewise the sails. There are the stores of every kind also to be got on board. In short, I should like to have the craft in a state of readiness to go to see directly she leaves the stocks. But I really don't see how it is to be managed. We shall never be able to do a quarter of what we want without arousing Raleigh's suspicions. Oh bless you sir, yes you will said Dickinson confidently. Raleigh's taken a mortal dislike to you all and especially to Mr. Evelyn. Sorry I am to say so. And he just hates to be dictated to. Now, whatever you want, just let Mr. Evelyn tell him he ought to do the opposite of it. And take my word for it. He'll just go and do exactly what he thinks you don't want him to. He'll do it out of sheer contrariness. But whether or no, now that we know what's wanted, we, that's me and my mates, we'll do as much of it as we can and you'll have to manage Raleigh's so as to get the rest. Very well with Dickinson said the skipper. We understand each other fully now so I will not detain you any longer. Do what you can to forward the plan and let us know from time to time what success you are meeting with. All right sir, I will, thank you sir. Good night ladies and gentlemen all. And Dickinson, taking the hint, retired. The gentlemen sat for an hour or two after that talking over matters as they smoked their pipes and then Captain Stanton, Lance and Bulls rose and left the cottage to pay a visit to the cavern. In due time they reached the place, proceeding at once to the chasm where they forthwith commenced a vigorous but unsuccessful search for the origin of the mysterious sounds which had disturbed the ladies. Finding nothing, they began their task of conveying the gold collected that day across to the heap on the other side of the gulf. This heap was now assuming goodly proportions. There was more of it than an ordinary ship's boat could take at a single trip, even in the calmest of weather. And Lance was in the act of remarking to Captain Stanton that he thought enough had now been collected to satisfy their every want when a weird unearthly moan smote upon their ears from the depths of the abyss. The sound, though not particularly loud, was so startling, echoing and reverberating as it did among the cavernous recesses far below that the work was brought to a sudden standstill and the three bewildered men felt their hair bristling as they listened. What in heaven's name can it be? ejaculated the skipper as he turned his startled gaze upon Lance. Impossible to say, answered the latter. One thing, however, is certain. No human lungs could possibly give utterance to such a sound. And yet I don't know. The echoes of this place may have the property of magnifying and prolonging it. Hello there, is there anyone below? He continued raising his torch aloft and peering with craned neck down into the black depths of the chasm. There was no response and the light of the torch was quite inadequate to the illumination of more than a few feet from the surface. It is possible that if there is anyone down there he may be unable to hear me. Sound rises, you know. Hear, bowls, come across to this side. We will unite our voices and see if that will evoke any response, said Lance. Bowls scrambled nimbly along the narrow and dangerous pathway, which, having traversed it so often, now had no terrors for any of them and speedily joined the others. Now, said Lance, I will count three and then we will all shout together, hello. One, two, three. Hello! The cry went peeling away right and left of them along the dark gallery. The echoes, taking it up and tossing it wildly from side to side, up and down, until it seemed as though every rock in the vast cavern had found a voice with which to mock them. But no answering cry came from below. There is no one there, said Lance. Indeed, there can be no one there. Nobody has been missed, and hark! What was that? A long, drawn, sobbing sigh, such as a child will utter after it has cried itself to sleep, but very much louder, and immediately afterwards a gust of hot air, which brought with it a distinct odor of sulfur swept past them down the gallery. God of mercy, can it be possible, ejaculated Lance? Yes, it must be. Fly for your lives, we may not have a moment to lose. What is it, gasped Captain Stanton, as the three started at a run up the gallery in the direction of the great cavern? A volcano, answered Lance. There are subterranean fires in activity at no great depth beneath our feet, and they may break into open eruption at any moment. This was enough. His companions wanted to hear no more. The few words they had already heard lent wings to their feet, and in an incredibly short time they found themselves panting and exhausted with their unwanted exertions, once more in the open air. Now we are comparatively safe, said Lance, as they walked rapidly down the ravine. What I chiefly feared was one of those earthquake shocks such as sometimes perceived of volcanic eruption. A comparatively insignificant one might have proved sufficient to cause the walls of the cavern to collapse and bury us. Of course the ladies must be cautioned not to venture near the place again, but I think perhaps it will be better not to tell them why. It will only alarm them, perhaps unnecessarily, and keep them on the tiptoe of nervous anxious expectancy. The better plan will be to say that we consider we have now as much gold as we think it probably should be able to take away. Don't you think so, Stanton? Assuredly I do, answered the skipper emphatically. Why, I would not allow my wife to enter that cavern again for all the gold it contains. They reached the cottage without further adventure, and on the following morning the ladies were told by Captain Stanton that sufficient gold having now been collected, there would be no further necessity for them to continue their visits to the cavern, which, moreover, Mr. Evelyn considered unsafe, the peculiar noises which had startled them all being, in his opinion, an indication of its liability to collapse at any moment. After this, a month passed away unmarked by anything worthy of record, except the ever-increasing insolence and tyranny of rally toward our unfortunate friends. The battery was by this time complete, the guns mounted, and the ammunition stored in its magazine, whilst the schooner was also in a very forward state. She was fully planked, decks laid, the ballast stowed, bulwarks and hatchways completed, her bottom coppered up to the load waterline, her hull outside painted with a coat of priming, and the carpenters assisted by the handiest men they could pick out were busy finishing off the fittings of the cabin and foxel. Lance had been anxiously watching for a favorable opportunity to put into operation Dickinson's suggestion as to the mode in which rally should be approached in order to secure the completion of the work in the manner most favorable to their own plans. But hitherto no such opportunity had presented itself. This was peculiarly unfortunate, as the work was now in so forward a state that, whenever rally opened his mouth, he expected to hear the dreaded order given for the preparation of the ways and the construction of the cradle for launching. But at length, the coveted opportunity came. It was about nine o'clock in the morning when Lance saw rally step out of his gig onto the rocky platform at the lower end of the shipyard and walked straight toward the schooner. The Greek paused at a little distance from where Lance was at work, taking up a position from which he could obtain a favorable view of the vessel's beautifully modeled hull and gracefully sweeping lines. And then, with one eye shut, he began a critical scrutiny of her, shifting his position a few inches occasionally in order to test the perfection of the various curves. Now, Lance thought, is my time. I must tackle him at once, whatever comes of it. It will never do to defer the matter any further. Another hour's delay may upset all our plans. So throwing down his tools, he stepped up to rally and said, I want to speak to you about the launch. We have now done nearly all that we can do to the schooner while she remains on the stocks. And our next job will be to lay down the ways and rally turned suddenly upon him with an evil gleam and glitter in his eyes, which spoke volumes as to the envy and hatred he bore to this man, who, though a prisoner and practically a slave, still revealed in every word and gesture his vast and unmistakable superiority to every other man on the island, its ruler included. Aha, Mr. Soldier, he said, using the mode of address, which for some reason, known only to himself, he deemed most offensive to Lance, his lips curling into a sneering smile as he spoke. What are you doing away from your work? Go back to it at once, unless you wish me to start you with a rope's end as I would an unruly boy. I have no work to go back to, said Lance. I am simply wasting my time at present and I wanted to learn your wishes as to what is to be done next. I presume you will have the craft launched forthwith as she is now ready to take to the water and I should be glad to know what timber we are to use for the ways. You presume I will have the craft launched at once, repeated rally, the spirit of opposition rising strong within him and the sneer upon his lips growing more bitter with every word he uttered. Why should you presume any such thing, A. U. Sarre? Because it is the right and proper thing to do, answered Lance. Every lover knows that a ship is launched before she is rigged. Besides, if you were to decide upon having the spars stepped and rigged, the stores stowed and the guns hoisted in before she leaves the stocks, I should have a lot of extra trouble in calculating the proper distribution of the weights so as to ensure her being in proper trim when she takes to the water and I want to avoid all that if possible. The Greek grinned with vindictive delight as he listened to this apparently inadvertent admission on Lance's part. It revealed to him, as he thought, a new and unexpected method of inflicting annoyance upon this man whom he hated so thoroughly and his eyes fairly sparkled with malice, as he answered. What do you suppose I care about your extra trouble, you lazy, skulking hound? I tell you this, I will have every spar stepped, rigged, and put in its place. The running, rigging, all rove, every sail bent, every gun mounted, the magazine stowed, the stores and water all put on board and everything ready for the schooner to go straight out to sea from the stocks before she leaves them. Pool Dickinson to the two chums who are working at no great distance. Come here and listen to what I say. This stupid fellow, this soldier who thinks himself a sailor says that the schooner ought to be launched at once. I say that she will be finished ready for sea before she leaves the stocks and I place you Dickinson in charge of the work to see that my orders are obeyed. This fellow will no longer give any orders. He will be only a common workman. He will obey you in future or you will freshen his way with a rope's end. You understand? I, I answered Dickinson, I understand your rally and I'll do it too. Never fear with a scowl at Lance for rally's benefit. Why the man must be a fool, a perfect fool not to see as it be ever so much easier to get things aboard now than when she's afloat. Now you turning to Lance, you just top your broom and get away back to your work at once and don't let me see no more skulking or you'd better look out. Lance simply shrugged his shoulders as was his habit whenever he received any insolence from the members of the brotherhood and turning on his heel, walked back to his work, secretly exalting in the complete success of his maneuver. Dickinson looked after him contemptuously for a moment or two and then his face clouding he remarked. After all, I wish I hadn't spoke quite so rough to him. The chap's got his head screwed on the right way. He knows a mortal side of things as I don't understand and I had been glad to have had his help and advice like in many a little job as I'm a feared we'll make a bit of a bungalow without him. That is all right said rally. You should be able to talk him over Dickinson. Be a bit civil to him and he will tell you all that you will want to know. Leave the what you call the bullying to me. I shall take the care that he enough has of that. And now on that same morning and only an hour or two after the conversation just recorded, there occurred an unfortunate incident which completely dissipated Lance's exaltation, filling him with the direst and most anxious forebodings and threatening to utterly upset the success of all their carefully arranged plans. It happened thus, some timber was required by the carpenters on board the schooner and Dickinson eager to properly play his part in the presence of the Greek who was standing close by ordered Lance and Captain Stanton to bring up a large and heavy plank which he pointed out. They accordingly shouldered it and staggering under the load proceeded upon their way which led them close past the spot where rally stood. As they were passing him, it unfortunately happened that Lance stepped upon a small spar which rolling under his feet caused into stagger in such a way that the plank struck rally full in the mouth knocking away three or four teeth and cutting open both lips. The fellow reeled backwards with the severity of the blow but recovering himself whipped out his long knife and pale as death with passion rushed upon Lance. Captain Stanton saw what was about to happen and shouted in warning, look out Evelyn flinging the plank to the ground at the same instant in such a way as to momentarily check the rush of the Greek. Lance at the call turned round and was just in time to save himself from an ugly blow by catching rally's uplifted arm in his left hand. The pirate, lithe and supple as a serpent writhed and twisted in Lance's grasp in his efforts to get free. But it was all in vain. He was helpless as a child in the iron grasp of the stalwart soldier and he was at length compelled to fling his knife to the ground and own himself vanquished. But no sooner was he once more free than calling to his aid a dozen of the most ruffingly of his band. He ordered them to seize Lance in the skipper and to lash them hand and foot until the irons could be brought and riveted on. This was done and an hour afterwards to the grief and consternation of all concerned in the plan of escape, the two to whom they chiefly looked for its success were marched off to the black hole, each man's ankles being connected together by a couple of close fitting iron bands and two long, feather links. End of chapter 18. Chapter 19 of The Pirate Island, a story of the South Pacific by Harry Collinwood. This liberal box recording is in the public domain. Bob gives way to violence. Great was the consternation and distress at Stanton Cottage that night when the workers returned from the shipyard and reported the arrest and imprisonment of Captain Stanton and Lance Evelyn. That these two should be placed in Durant's at all was regarded as a serious misfortune. But coming as it did at so critical a time, just as the work on the schooner was drawing near its completion and when the long looked for opportunity to escape might present itself at almost any moment. It was justly regarded as a disaster of the gravest character. The imprisoned men were the two who had most completely retained their coolness and self-possession throughout the whole of the reverses which had befallen the party. It was their fertile brains which had devised the audaciously daring plan of escape. And without them, the rest of the party felt that they dare not do anything for fear of marring the whole scheme. And there was still another misfortune attending this arrest. Supposing a favorable opportunity presented itself for the carrying out of the plan, it could not be seized so long as these two men were prisoners. All, even to Dale, were fully agreed that escape without them was not to be thought of for a moment. For two of the party, poor Mrs. Stanton and Blanche, there was still another source of anxiety. Now that Raleigh had at last completely laid aside the mask of friendliness which had at first concealed his feeling of ill will. Now that he had cast off the last remains of a semblance of forbearance, to what terrible lengths might he not allow his vindictiveness to carry him? Would he stop short of the humiliation of imprisonment and fetters? Or was it not too greatly to be dreaded that he would now proceed also to active violence? This fear was fully shared by the rest of the party. But they were careful to hide it from the two poor heartbroken women who were chiefly interested in the prisoners, striving rather to inspire them with hopes which they themselves did not entertain. A long and most anxious discussion of the situation that night, Rex and Bowles taking the lead by virtue of their superior resolution and experience was productive of absolutely no result except to place an additional damper upon their already sufficiently depressed spirits. Bob said nothing, but like the Queen's parrot, he thought the more. Brooke frankly acknowledged himself quite unequal to the emergency, as did Dale. But both cheerfully stated their readiness to do anything they might be directed to do. And here it may be stated that misfortune had been gradually doing for the latter as it does for so many people, what prosperity had utterly failed to do. It had been driving out of him that peevishness of temper and that utter selfishness of character which had been his most disagreeable characteristics. And it had developed in their place an almost cheerful resignation to circumstances and a readiness to think and act for others which promised to make of him eventually a man whom it would be possible to both respect and esteem. The following day brought with it a full revelation of the state of things which our friends would have to expect in the future. Captain Stanton and Lance being taken out of their confinement only to be employed all day in fetters upon work of the most laborious description and locked up again at night in the loathsome black hole. While for the benefit of the whole party and for the rest of the prisoners also for that matter, Raleigh had provided himself with a cult which he applied with merciless severity to their shoulders whenever the humor seized him. This last indignity was almost greater than they could bear but Lance saw that the time was not yet right for action and that there was really nothing for it but to bear everything in dignified silence at present and was as much fortitude as they could summon to their aid and he managed to whisper as much to Bob and to request him to pass the word to the others which at intervals during the day Bob did. Before the day was over, most of the prisoners accepting those belonging to the Gallatea party had had enough of Raleigh's cult and signified their readiness to join the brotherhood. They were accordingly sworn in at nightfall on their return from work. This most unfortunate state of affairs had prevailed for nearly a fortnight during which Raleigh's arrangements for the entire completion of the schooner whilst yet upon the stocks had been pressed vigorously forward. When Dickinson found himself in a position to announce to the Greek that another three days would see the schooner ready for sea and that a sufficient number of men being now at liberty to proceed with the work the time had arrived for the laying down of the ways and the construction of the cradle. The eyes of the Greek sparkled with delight, three days, only three days more or four at most and the time for which he had so anxiously waited would have arrived. The time when he would find himself master not only of a battery which would enable him to hold the island against all comers, Johnson included, or rather Johnson especially, but also of a smart little craft capable of sailing round and round the albatross and heavily enough armed to meet her upon equal terms. Let but those three or four days pass without interruption and with what sincere delight would he view the approach of Johnson and his brig and with what a warm and unexpected welcome would he receive them. He rubbed his hands with fiendish glee as he thought of this and slapped Dickinson playfully on the shoulder as he bid him commence the necessary work forthwith. Thereupon Dickinson boldly stated that he must have the advice and assistance of Captain Stanton and Lance as he didn't know enough about cradles and ways and such like to build them properly and he couldn't find anybody on the island as did. The ex-Boson's mate was in hopes that this proposition of his would lead to at least a temporary amelioration of the condition of his two friends if not the absolute establishment of a better state of things but his hopes were unexpectedly and effectually quenched by the announcement that the Greek knew all about it and intended to superintend that part of the work himself. The time had now arrived when a definite plan of action at the decisive moment ought to be fully agreed upon and feeling this Dickinson arose from his bunk about midnight that night and lighting his pipe sauntered in the direction of the black hole hoping for an opportunity to confer and finally arrange matters what the prisoners can find therein. To his great disappointment and chagrin he found the door of the place, a small low building roughly but very solidly constructed a stone with no windows and no means of ventilation save such as was afforded by the momentary opening of the door for ingress or egress guarded by a couple of the most ruffingly of the pirates fellows who were completely the creatures of Raleigh and who had on more than one occasion thrown out strong hints of their suspicion that Dickinson was on more friendly terms than he ought to be with the men now in confinement. To their searching inquiries as to the reasons for Dickinson's untimely and suspicious visit to them the ex-bozins mate was driven to reply with a complaint as to the extreme heat and closeness of the night and of his inability to sleep and consequence his restlessness being such as to constrain him to rise and come outside for a smoke and a chat with somebody and there being no one else to chat with he had just come to them. To this explanation he added a careless offer to relieve them of their guard for the rest of the night but this offer provoked such an expression of unqualified suspicion from both the guards that he at once saw he was treading on very dangerous ground and was accordingly feigned to abandon his well-intentioned effort to communicate with those inside the prison door. Driven thus into a corner he resolved to get a word or two if possible with the inmates of Stanton Cottage and he accordingly sauntered off taking a very roundabout way as long as he thought it at all possible for his movements to be seen by the already suspicious guards. Dickinson's complaint as to the heat and closeness of the night was quite sufficiently well-founded to have been accepted as perfectly genuine. It was pitchy dark the sky being obscured by a thin veil of cloud which was yet sufficiently dense to completely obscure the light of the stars. The air was still to the extent of stagnation and the temperature was so unusually high that Dickinson found the mere act of walking even at the idle sauntering pace which he had adopted a laborious exertion. In the great and oppressive stillness which prevailed the horse thunder of the trampling surf upon the rocky shores of the island smote so loudly upon the ear as to be almost startling and to the lonely wanderer there in the stifling darkness the sound seemed to bring a vague mysterious premonition of disaster. Dickinson had almost reached the cottage when he became conscious of another sound rising above that of the roaring surf. The sound as of a heavily laden wagon approaching over a rough and stony road or of a heavy train rumbling through a tunnel at no great depth beneath the surface of the earth. The sound dull and muffled still swept rapidly toward him from seaward and at the moment of its greatest intensity there was for an instant a vibrating jar of the ground beneath his feet. The next moment it had passed and the sound swept onward toward the interior of the island until it again became lost in the hollow roar of the distant breakers. Somewhat startled by this singular and unusual phenomenon Dickinson hurried forward and soon stood beneath the walls of the cottage. A light was still burning in one of the upper rooms so seizing a handful of fine gravel he flung it against the window in the hope of quietly attracting the attention of the inmates. After two or three essays his efforts were rewarded with success. The window being softly opened and Bowles' head thrust out with the low-spoken ejaculation. Hello below there. It's me, Dickinson, was the equally low-spoken response. If you're not all turned in I'd be glad to have a few words with some of your. All right, my lad, said Bowles. I'll be down in a jiffy. Nothing else gone wrong, I hope? No, said Dickinson. I only wants to make a few arrangements, that's all. In another minute the ladder was cautiously lowered and Rex and Bowles joined their visitor. I say, gentlemen, did you hear anything peculiar a few minutes ago? Was Dickinson's first remark. Yes, said Rex, did you? Unless I am greatly mistaken we have been visited by a slight shock of earthquake. Earthquake, eh? Well, if taint nothing worse than that I don't mind was the response. You see, I don't know much about earthquakes not being used to them and I felt a bit scared just at first I own. But if so be as it's only a earthquake why that's all right? If anything like that happens I like to know if it's only to keep my mind quiet. But that ain't what I've come up here to rouse you gentlemen out in the middle watch about. It's just this here. And therewith he proceeded to lay before his hearers his own view of the state of affairs pointing out to them the fact already keenly recognized by them that the moment for action might now present itself at any time and explaining his own anxiety for a definite arrangement of some plan of operations together with an agreement upon certain preconcerted signals to be of such a character as should be easily understood by the initiated while unlikely to arouse the suspicions of the rest. A long conference ensued at the close of which Dickinson quietly returned to his hammock with the greatly relieved mind. The others also retired but not to sleep. They felt that the decisive moment was at hand the moment upon the right use of which depended their liberty, if not their lives for they were fully persuaded that if their first attempt failed they would never be allowed to have another. And though still anxious their recent talk with Dickinson had made them more hopeful of success than they had ever felt before. Hitherto they had always been haunted by a lurking doubt but now they began for the first time to think that there really was a fair prospect of succeeding if they faced the dangers and difficulties of the attempt with boldness and resolution. Their chief anxiety now was how to free their two comrades and to this they were as yet quite unable to see their way. Their anxiety and distress were greatly increased on the following day by finding that Raleigh had given orders that his two prisoners, the Skipper and Lance were henceforth to be kept in close confinement altogether with a double guard fully armed at the door instead of being released during the day to work with the others at the shipyard. To be confined at all in the noisome black hole was bad enough and their fortnight's incarceration had already told visibly on the health of the prisoners even when they had had the opportunity of breathing a pure atmosphere during the day. But now that they were doomed to remain in the place both day and night their friends became seriously alarmed. They felt that the sentence was tantamount to one of a slow but certain death. And the most trying part of it was that there seemed no possibility of affording any succor to the doomed men. No attempt to help or relieve them could be devised except such as must necessarily bring the party into immediate collision with Raleigh and his mermitans. The Greek had now entirely laid aside all pretense of treating his prisoners with any show of consideration. They had served his purpose. He had made them his tools as long as their assistants had been necessary to the advancement of his ambitious schemes. But now their help was no longer necessary to him and he felt free to gratify without stint the malignant and vindictive feeling with which he had from the first regarded them. One or two of them too, notably Lance and Captain Stanton had on more than one occasion successfully opposed him in his efforts to have things entirely his own way. And that also must be amply atoned for. So he now amused himself at intervals in devising fresh indignities in planning new hardships to be heaped upon the unfortunate Galatea party. It was in this vindictive spirit that on the second evening after Dickinson's midnight visit Raleigh walked up to the cottage and unceremoniously opening the door obtruded his unexpected and most unwelcome presence upon its inmates. As he made his appearance the conversation which had been of a somewhat animated character suddenly ceased. He noted this circumstance as he glanced suspiciously round the room with his features twisted into the now too familiar malicious smile. Bowing with a sarcastic affectation of politeness he remarked, I am afraid my sudden appearance has interrupted a very interesting conversation. If so, I am very sorry. But pray go on, do not allow my presence to be any, what you call it, any, any, ah yes, I have it, any restraint. Then suddenly changing his manner as his naturally suspicious nature asserted itself, he demanded, what were you talking about? Tell me, you, I insist. We were talking about matters chiefly interesting to ourselves, answered Bulls. If it had been anything we wanted you to know we'd have sent for you. Ha, my big strong friend, how you are funny tonight. You want to make a laugh at me, is it not? All right, wait till tomorrow. I then shall make a laugh at you. It is I that shall be funny then, returned rally, with the evil smile broadening on his face and his eyes beginning to sparkle with anger. Well, he continued, since you will not so civil be as answer my polite question, I will tell you what I have come to say. It is this, you men are working after a very lazy fashion it is the truth for your living. And from now I intend that the women, oh, I beg the pardon, I should have said the ladies shall work for theirs too. I am not any more going to allow laziness. You must all work beginning tomorrow. Here was an announcement which fairly took away the breath of the party. Rally saw the consternation which his speech had produced and laughed in hearty enjoyment of it. I tell you what it is, my good sir, said Rex, recovering his presence of mind. You may say what you please as to the manner in which we work, but you know as well as I do that our services are ample payment for the food and lodging which we and the ladies get. And as to their working, why it is simply preposterous. What can they do? What can they do? repeated rally. Ha, ha, I will tell you my very dear sir, what they can do and what they shall do. There are three of them and the one child. One shall do the cooking for the men. One shall clean out the sleeping room, repair the men's clothes and make their hammocks. And one, the prettiest one, shall cook for me and keep my cabin in order, make and mend my clothes and attend to me generally. As for the child, she shall gather firewood and ah, there she is, come and kiss me, little girl. May had, in fact, at that moment, entered the room with a happy laugh. But catching sight of rally, the laugh was broken off short and she sought shelter and safety by her mother's side from which she manifested a very decided disinclination to move at rally's invitation. Come here and kiss me, little girl, repeated the Greek, his anger rapidly rising as he saw how unmistakably the child shrank from him. You must please excuse her, said Mrs. Stanton, with difficulty restraining the expression of her resentment. The child has not been accustomed to kiss strangers. Come and kiss me, little girl, repeated rally for the third time, holding out his arms to May and entirely ignoring Mrs. Stanton's remark. But his sardonic smile and his glittering eyes were the reverse of attractive to the child. Besides, she knew him. No, she said resolutely, I will not kiss you, I don't love you, you are the naughty wicked cruel man that locked up my dear papa and Mr. Evelyn and won't let them come home to me. Hush, may darling, began Mrs. Stanton, but her warning came too late. The unlucky words had been spoken and rally, smarting under a sense of humiliation from the scorn and loathing of him so freely displayed by this pretty child, scarcely more than a baby yet, sprang to his feet and, seizing May roughly by the arm, dragged her with brutal force away from her mother's side. And before anyone could interfere, drew out his colt and struck her savagely with it twice across her poor, little, lightly clad shoulders. The little creature shrieked aloud with the cruel pain as she writhed in the ruffingly grasp of the pirate. Yet the fiendish heart of her tormentor felt no mercy, his lust of cruelty was aroused and the colt was raised a third time to strike. But the blow never fell. Bob was the nearest to the pirate when he made his unexpected attack upon May. And though the occurrence was too sudden to admit of his interfering in time to prevent the first two blows, he was on hand by the time that the third was ready to fall. With a yell of rage, more like that of a wild beast than of a man, he sprang upon rally, dealing him with his clenched left hand so terrific a blow under the chin that the pirate's lower jaw was shattered and his tongue cut almost in two. Then quick as a flash of light, he released poor May from the villain's grasp, wrenched the colt out of his hand and whilst the wretch still writhed in agony upon the ground where he had fallen under the force of Bob's first fearful blow, thrashed him with it until the clothes were cut from his back and his shoulders barred with a close network of livid and bloody wheels. The miserable, cowardly wretch screamed at first more piercingly even than poor May had done, but Bob commanded silence so imperatively and was such frightful threats that rally was fairly cowed into submitting to the rest of his fearful punishment in silence, safe for such low moans as he was utterly unable to suppress. As May well be supposed, this startlingly sudden scene of violence was productive of the utmost confusion in the room where it originated. The ladies hastily seizing poor little moaning May in their arms be to precipitate retreat. While the men sprang to their feet and tried for some time in vain to drag Bob away from his victim, but the lad was now a tall, stalwart, broad-shouldered fellow, his anger was thoroughly roused by the Greek's cruel and cowardly conduct and it was not until he had pretty well exhausted himself in the infliction of a well-deserved punishment that he suffered himself to be dragged away. And it was now too in the desperate emergency with which our friends found themselves in a moment brought face to face, that Bob showed the sterling stuff of which he was made. Cutting short the horrified remonstrances of his friends, he took the reins of affairs in his own hands, issuing his instructions as coolly as though he had been a leader all the days of his life. The time has come, said he. Mr. Bowles, get a piece of rope, lash that fellow hands and heels together and gag him. The rest of you get our few traps together, tell the ladies to do the same and let all muster down at the landing as quickly as possible. I'm off to warn Dickinson and the rest and to release the captain and Mr. Evelyn. Ah, I may as well take these, as his eye fell upon abrasive revolvers and rallies belt. He withdrew the weapons, hastily examined them by the light of the lamp to ascertain whether they were loaded or no, found that they were and then repeating his injunctions as to rapidity of action, he slipped the pistols one into each pocket, opened the door and disappeared in the darkness. Once fairly clear of the house, Bob paused for a minute or two to collect his thoughts. Then he walked on again toward the large building in which the men were housed and on reaching it, coolly thrust his head in at the open door and looked round as though in search of someone. Well, matey, what is it? asked one of the pirates. Is Dickinson here? inquired Bob boldly. I think he is, was the reply. Yes, there he is, over there. Here, Dickinson, you're wanted. Aye, aye, answered Dickinson. Who wants me? I do, answered Bob. Mr. Rally says you're to shift over at once. This was simply a form of words which had been agreed on when Dickinson paid his midnight visit to the cottage and meant that the moment for action had arrived and that a muster was to be made at the landing place. The sudden summons took Dickinson rather by surprise though he had been schooling himself to expect it at any moment. He instantly recovered himself, however, and rising to his feet with a well-assumed air of reluctance asked, does he mean that we are to go now? Tonight? He said at once, answered Bob. Oh, very well, growled Dickinson. I suppose we must obey orders. Here you, Tom Poole, Sullivan, Masters. And he glanced his eye round the room, apparently hesitating whom to choose, but gradually picking out one after the other all the men who had cast in their lot with our friends. Muster your kits and then go up to the capstone house. You've got to turn in aboard the battery tonight, my beauties. The men named, taking their cue from Dickinson and acting up to instructions already received, assumed a sulky, unwilling demeanor as they said about the work of packing a small quantity of already carefully selected clothes in their bags, growling and grumbling at having to turn out just when they were thinking of tumbling into their hammocks and so on, but using the utmost expedition all the same. In a little over 10 minutes from the time of their first being called, the men, 16 and number, stood in the large loft of the capstone house. Poole had brought with him the key of the arm chest and opening the case, he rapidly served out to every man a cutlass with its belt and a pair of six chambered revolvers, every one of which he had himself fully loaded only the day before in preparation for such an emergency as the present. The chest was then relocked and left, it being too heavy for them to carry away with them, to say nothing of the suspicion which such an act would excite if witnessed as it would almost certainly be. But Poole slipped the key back into his pocket again, knowing that the strength of the chest and the solidity of the lock were such as to involve the expenditure of a considerable amount of time in the breaking open and every minute of detention suffered by the pirates would now be almost worth a man's life to the escaping party. Now lads, said Dickinson, are you all ready? Then march down to the beach we goes and seizes the two whale boats, eight of us to each boat, but mind, there's to be no getting into the boats or shoving off until the ladies and gentlemen from the huts all here. May have we shall have to make a fight of it on the beach yet. So keep dry land under your feet until you has orders contrary wise. The men descended the ladder leading from the capstone house loft and ranging themselves in a small compact body to a breast marched down to the landing place being joined on their way by some half dozen curious idlers who had turned out to see what was in the wind. Dickinson was most anxious to get rid of these unwelcome attendants and did all he could think of to persuade them to return to the house. But though quite unsuspicious as yet, they were not to be persuaded. They preferred rather to march alongside the other party, keeping up a constant fire of jests and witticisms as sailors are want to indulge in. Bob from a secluded and shadowy corner watched this party as long as he could see them and then began to look out for his own particular friends. He had not long to wait. Barely five minutes afterwards, he saw them also pass down on their way to the boats. He allowed these as sufficient time to reach the boats and then set off at a brisk pace to the black hole. He soon reached it and on his approach was promptly challenged by the two guards who happened to be the same two truculent ruffians who were on guard when Dickinson tried to communicate with the prisoners. In reply to the challenge, Bob informed them that they were wanted by Raleigh immediately at the cottage, that being the most distant building, and that he had orders to keep guard until their return. What do we wanted for was the suspicious question. Oh, I believe there's some more people to be locked up here, answered Bob nonchalantly. All right, answered the one who had asked the question. Come on, Mike, and you, you young swab, mind you don't let a soul come near here while we're gone. If you do, Raleigh'll just skin your, do you hear? All right, answered Bob, placing his back against the door. You go on, I won't give Raleigh a chance to skin me, never fear. He's a good deal more likely to skin you if you don't look sharp. The two guards accordingly set out in the direction of the cottage, but they had not gone half a dozen steps before they returned, cursing and swearing most horribly. Here, you young cub, what's the password? Damn me if I hadn't forgotten that, exclaimed one of them, making towards Bob with outstretched hand. Stand back, said Bob. If you advance another step, I'll shoot you both like dogs. The password, the password, demanded the ruffingly pair. Give the password at once or by, I'll split your skull with this cutlass. Bob saw that he had not a moment to lose, that his life hung upon a thread, and that moreover, if he allowed these fellows to overpower him, the whole scheme would probably fail. He therefore whipped out his pistols and taking rapid aim, pulled both triggers at the same instant. There was a single report and one of the men staggered forward, shot through the body, whilst the other threw up his arms and fell back heavily to the ground with a bullet in his brain. Bob remembered for many a long day afterwards and often saw in his dreams at night the wild, despairing glare in the eyes of the dying pirate as the flash of the pistol glanced upon the glazing eyeballs for an instant. But he had no time to think about such things now. Stooping down and applying his mouth to the keyhole, he said, loud enough to be heard by those within. Stand clear in there. I'm about to blow the lock to pieces. It is I, Robert, the time has come. Fire away, my lad, was the reply. You will not hurt us? Bob applied the muzzles of both pistols to the lock and pulled the triggers. Fortunately, the lock was not a particularly strong one and a supplementary kick sent the door flying open. Captain Stoughton and Lance at once emerged from their dark noise and prison and glanced eagerly around them. Thank you, Robert, hurriedly exclaimed the skipper. There is no time to say more now, I know, so tell us what we are to do, my lad, and we'll do it. Bob pointed to the prostrate bodies of the two pirates and said, take their arms and then we must make a rush to the landing. This firing is sure to have raised an alarm, but it could not be helped. But how is this? Where are your manacles? Slip them off, my lad. The moment we heard your voice, answered the skipper. Price, fine fellow that he is, managed that for us by putting us in iron several sizes too large for us. Now, Evelyn, are you ready? I fancy I hear footsteps running this way. Already, said Lance. Then off we go, exclaimed Bob. This way, gentlemen, sharp round to the right for a couple of hundred yards, then straight for the landing. It will give us a better chance if the pirates suspect anything and place themselves to cut us off. Away went the trio at racing pace, Bob slightly taking the lead and striking sharply away to the right. It was well for them that they did so, as they were thus unable to dodge a crowd of men who came excitedly running up from the landing on hearing the pistol shots. The party from the cottage had safely reached the boats some few minutes before this. Dickinson, having very cleverly got them through the crowd on the landing place by calling out in an authoritative voice as soon as he saw them coming. Now then, lads, make way there, make way for the prisoners to pass. The men accordingly gave way, forming a lane in their midst through which our friends passed in fear and trembling, exposed for a minute or so to the coarsest rivalry which the roughingly band could summon to their lips on the spur of the moment. It was not until they had all been passed safely into the two whale boats and Dickinson's little band had drawn themselves closely up with drawn cutlasses in a compact line between the boats and the shore that the suspicions of the pirates became in the least aroused. Then there gradually arose an eager whispering among them. Suspicious glances returned first upon Dickinson's party and then toward the buildings and upon the noise of shots being heard, they all set out at a run in the direction of the sound. Fully persuaded that affairs had somehow fallen out of joint with them and that it was quite time for them to be stirring. They had run about half the distance between the boats and the capstan house when someone caught a glimpse of three flying figures indistinctly made out through the gloom. The alarm was instantly given and in another moment the entire crowd had turned sharply off in pursuit. It now became a neck and neck race between the two parties as to which should reach the boats first. The pirates were poor runners, not being much accustomed to that kind of exercise, but so unfortunately were two out of the three fugitives of whom they were in chase. Bob was fleet as a deer for a short distance but he was far too loyal to leave his two friends and they poor fellows, weak and cramped as they were with their recent confinement, already began to feel their limbs dragging heavy as lead over the ground. The pirates gained upon them rapidly. Presently one of the pursuers was so near that they could hear him panting heavily behind. You keep steadily on, murmured Bob, as he pushed in for a moment between his two companions. I'll stop this fellow. Then allowing the skipper to pass ahead of him, he sprang suddenly aside and grasping one of his pistols by the barrel, brought down the butt of the weapon heavily upon the pirates head as he rushed past. The fellow staggered apace for too further and then fell heavily to the ground where he lay face downwards and partially stunned until his comrades came to his assistance. As fortunately they all stopped and gathered around the man raising him to his feet and eagerly questioning him, the diversion thus created gave the three fugitives time to reach the boats without further molestation. Here they were of course, received with open arms but before their greetings were half exchanged the armed guard had turned to the boats and exerting their whole strength shot them out upon the glassy waters of the bay springing in themselves at the same moment and taking to their oars without an instant's delay. As soon as the boats heads returned round and fairly pointed away from the shore and tore the shipyard, Dickinson taking off his hat in salutation to Captain Stanton said in a loud voice so that all in the boats could hear. Now sir, we're fairly launched upon this here enter prize at last and may luck go with us. We've all had to manage as best we could for the last few days since she was locked up you know sir, but now as you're free again we want you to understand as we all looks upon you as our lawful leader in captain and that from henceforth all you've got to do is to give your orders and we'll obey him. End of chapter 19.