er resolved to try and escape.

Dan proposed, could they ascertain that the pirates had sailed on any
expedition, to secure the old woman, make their way down to the harbour
during some dark night, and attempt to gain the open sea. Once clear of
the island, they might hope to get picked up by some ship, and under
their circumstances they might trust even to an enemy, or they might
succeed in reaching Jamaica. They must wait, however, until the
hurricane season was over, and they might then, even in a canoe,
navigate these calm seas without much danger.

Owen thought the plan feasible, although it might prove difficult and
dangerous. It could scarcely be hoped that the pirates would leave the
harbour unguarded. It might be a hard matter to find a canoe suitable
for their object, and they must also obtain a supply of provisions and
water. Mammy's watchful eye would effectually present them from doing
this, and herein lay their first and chief difficulty.

O'Harrall had now been for some time absent. It struck Owen that
perhaps the account he had given of the savage character of the
inhabitants was to prevent then from leaving the house, and he resolved
to try how Mammy would behave should they attempt to go out.

Pompey undertook to try and persuade her to allow them to take some
exercise, as their health was suffering from their long confinement. He
got her, therefore, one day into conversation, when she appeared to be
in a better humour than usual, and after some time he made a signal to
Tim, who was on the watch, to come down. Owen and Dan followed. Then,
telling her that they would go out and take a short walk, they left the
house without further ceremony, notwithstanding her expostulations.

"Nebber mind, Mammy," said Pompey; "dey come back. Me help you cook
dinner meantime."

Owen took a path in the first instance away from the harbour, but as his
great object was to obtain a view of it, he doubled back on the other
side, and then hurried towards it. Just as they had caught sight of the
water through the trees, they came upon a hut, near which they were
about to pass, when Owen heard the voice of a man, as if in pain,
proceeding from it. Prompted by a kind feeling and a wish to relieve
the sufferer, he entered. On a rude bunk lay a white man, apparently
ill of fever. He appeared greatly astonished at seeing Owen and his
companions.

"Who are you?" he asked. "I thought the ship had sailed."

"