ned away in the
direction of the hut.

"Would you mind walking a little way up the valley, gentlemen, before we
go inside?" said Bob. "I want to tell you something I ought perhaps to
have told you long ago; but we have been so busy, I could never find an
opportunity without speaking before the ladies, who, I think, ought not
to know anything about it."

"Certainly, Robert," said Captain Staunton; "let us hear what it is by
all means. It is doubtless something of importance, or you would not
speak so earnestly."

"Well, sir," said Bob, "I wanted chiefly to warn you all not to trust
Johnson too much. He _seems_ friendly enough, but I doubt very much
whether he is sincere. The day that we arrived in port, when the hands
went aloft to stow the canvas, I jumped aloft with them, just to keep my
hand in, as it were, and stowed the driver. While I was passing the
gaskets, that fellow Ralli came on board and entered into conversation
with Johnson, who spoke to him about us, and more particularly about
_you_, Mr Evelin. He said that you were going to design a very fast
vessel for him, and that we were to assist in the building of her, and
in the fortification of the harbour; and that as long as we could be of
use we were to be treated civilly; but that when we had done everything
required of us, he wouldn't care _how_ we were treated, or what became
of us."

"The false, treacherous scoundrel!" exclaimed Captain Staunton
indignantly. "Was that all he said, Robert?"

"All that I heard," said Bob. "After that they both went into the
cabin. I wasn't eaves-dropping, you know, sir; but I was just overhead,
so that I couldn't help hearing every word they said; and as they were
talking about us, I thought I was justified in keeping my ears open."

"Quite right, Robert, so you were," answered the skipper. "We are
surrounded by and at the mercy of a band of men who have outraged every
law, both divine and human; it therefore behoves us, for our own sakes,
and even more for the sake of the helpless women dependent upon us, to
take every possible precaution, and to ascertain by every possible
means, what are their actual intentions regarding us. They are
detaining us here against our will; they have imposed upon us tasks
which they have not a shadow of right to lay upon us; and if they
meditate treachery--which, from what you say, seems only too probable--
we are justified in resorting to craft, if necessary, to protect
ou