tly what I have said, Mr Damerell--or rather what _you_ have
just said," answered Price. "I joined the party because I had no fancy
for being left to die on a desert island, like those unfortunate
passengers or the poor skipper and Mr Manners; but I didn't then know
what was before me, sir. I am a peaceable man, I am, and though I've
had no hand in any of the bloodshed that has occurred since we sailed
from here, I know that murder has been committed, and I want to separate
myself from the murderers. If I could I would have prevented the mutiny
in the first place; but I never knew that anything serious was
intended--"

"Well, never mind about that just now," interrupted Ned; "the present
question is this. If I happened to have formed a plan of escape--a
plan, we will say, involving a considerable amount of risk and a great
deal of hard work, would you be willing to join me in it?"

"Would I? Only try me, Mr Damerell--try me, sir! Why, there is _no_
risk, _no_ labour I would not willingly face for a good chance to escape
from that pack of yelling savages over yonder. Why, what are they doing
now, sir? Blest if it doesn't look as though they had been and set fire
to the hut, sir!"

Ned ran into the saloon and brought the glass on deck.

"_They have_!" he exclaimed, looking through the instrument at a bright
blaze which was leaping up among the trees on shore. "Well, never
mind," he continued; "it does not matter, for I intend attempting an
escape from them to-night--now, at once--and glad enough shall I be to
have your assistance. I intend nothing less than to run off with the
ship; so--"

"To run off with the ship?" echoed Price. "Oh, Mr Damerell, we can
never do that, sir--"

"I shall _try_, at all events," interrupted Ned. "So whilst I slip out
and cast loose the jib, do you go below to the boatswain's locker and
bring me from thence a cold chisel and a good heavy hammer."

Without further parley, Price did as he was bidden, and very soon he and
Ned were busy knocking out the pin from the shackle in the cable which
happened to be nearest the hawse-pipe. The job occupied them fully a
quarter of an hour, for the pin was rusted-in; but at length out it
came, and in another minute away went the end of the cable out through
the hawse-pipe and into the water with a loud rattle and a splash.

"So far, so good," said Ned. "Now, Price, I want you to take the glass
and keep a sharp watch upon the shore. T