ention to make sail for your sister's island. Ned has told me
its whereabouts; and if they can only hold out until we reach them they
will be all right afterwards. And, by this day twelvemonth, if all goes
well, we will not only be, all hands of us, back among civilised people,
but we will have half the men-of-war of the British navy scouring the
seas in search of you. Do you think you can manage to hold out for so
long, my dear?"

"I don't know," said Sibylla, somewhat ruefully, "a year is a long time,
isn't it? However," she continued, rather more cheerfully, "I hope we
may not have to wait so long as that; Mr Damerell is wonderfully
clever--as well as brave and gentle--and I know he is always thinking of
some plan of escape, and he speaks so cheerfully and hopefully that I
cannot but believe he will succeed. And if he does not we are still not
absolutely helpless. The mutineers are quite as much in Mr Damerell's
power as we are in theirs, for he says that not one of them possesses
the least knowledge of the science of navigation, and he therefore
believes that, for their own sakes, they will be civil to us both."

"Well, you are a plucky girl to keep up your spirits so well, and no
mistake!" ejaculated the skipper admiringly. "I am glad to see it, and
shall now be able to say good-bye with an easier mind. Keep up your
courage, my dear, and trust in God; He is as well able to take care of
you here as anywhere else, and He will, too, I am convinced. And, after
God, my dear girl, put your trust in Ned; he is a true gentleman and a
brave, clever lad. He will outwit those rascals yet, you mark my word;
and when he gives them the slip he is not the sort of lad to secure his
own safety and run off, leaving you in the lurch, so--"

"Boat's all ready, and waiting, gents, so look alive, please," here
interrupted Rogers, poking his head in at the cabin door, and as hastily
withdrawing it again.

"Well, then, the time has come for us to say good-bye," resumed the
skipper. "I have said pretty nearly all I wanted to say, and the rest
is not of much consequence. I am glad I have had the opportunity for
this little chat, and more glad than I can say to find you so brave and
hopeful. Keep up your courage, my dear young lady; put your trust in
God, and whatever Ted tells you to do, do it at once and without asking
any questions, because whenever the moment for action comes, it will be
suddenly, unexpectedly, and there