r to carry us along until we can get into the way of
foraging for ourselves. Next, we shall want arms and plenty of
ammunition. And, after that, our wants, I think, will be confined to a
few useful and handy tools, and as much rope and canvas, and as many
nails as you can persuade them to spare us. If there is anything else
you can think of which will be likely to be useful, just heave it into
the boat with the rest of the things, will ye?"

"Ay, ay, sir, I will," answered Ned. "You may rely upon my doing the
very best they will allow me to do for you. And now, sir, as time
presses, and I may not have a better opportunity, let me say good-bye to
you both. God bless you, Captain Blyth, and you, too, Manners, and may
the day not be far distant when we shall all meet once more in peace and
safety."

"Good-bye, Ned, dear boy," answered the skipper, with deep emotion;
"good-bye, and God bless _you_ and that poor dear girl who shares your
cruel captivity. May He preserve you both, protect you from all evil,
and, in His own good time, accord you a happy deliverance from the
wretches who now hold you in bondage. We have had no time to talk about
yourself and your own plans for the future; but I have no fear for you,
boy. Yours is an old head though it is on young shoulders; and I firmly
believe that by and by you will somehow manage to handsomely give the
rascals the slip and carry off that poor girl with you. Good-bye, my
lad, once more; good-bye and God bless you!"

Ned grasped the outstretched hands which were offered him and, too
deeply moved for speech, wrung them silently, after which he beat a
hasty retreat, and forthwith set himself about the task of providing as
plentiful a supply as he dared of all those articles which the skipper
had enumerated.

Ned had scarcely finished his task when the ship rounded-to under the
lee of the island, which was now discovered to be a small affair of
about three miles long by two miles wide, or thereabouts, its greatest
elevation being perhaps two hundred and fifty feet above the sea-level.
Like the island on which the passengers had been landed, its most rugged
face seemed to be turned to the westward, the eastern side sloping
gradually to the water's-edge, where it terminated in a smooth sandy
beach, upon which a landing might be effected without difficulty. For a
distance of about half a mile inland from the beach the ground was
carpeted with a smooth velvety green-sw