nded."

"We've got to take the risk. The tender there is large enough to
carry us and a good supply of provisions--that is, enough water, to
last several days. We can rig some sort of sail, and, in less than a
week, by keeping to the northwest, we shall reach some inhabited
island, unless we should be picked up before that time, which I
consider quite likely."

"I've thought a good deal of it, Jack," said the mate, in a voice of
equal seriousness. "We have been restrained heretofore by the fear
that it would endanger too greatly the safety of Inez, and mainly by
the feeling that we couldn't stay here long without assistance being
summoned by that signal fluttering up there. And yet, three years have
come and gone," continued the mate, "and not a living soul has come to
us. There have been hundreds of days within this long period when we
might have embarked on board the little boat and safely made our way
to some other port, but we could not know it, and the result is--here
we are."

"And the situation is very different from what it was when we first
landed, for it is now a choice between staying here with the certainty
of miserably perishing--every one of us--and of starting boldly out
upon an unknown sea, as it may be called, with the chances between
life and death about even."

"You have stated the case correctly," assented Mr. Storms; "and though
it is your place to command, yet as you have deferred to me, I give
you my promise that to-morrow we shall begin rigging the best sort of
sail we can, and at daylight on the next day we will start for
whatever port Providence directs us."

"That has put new life into me, Abe. I feel now as I did three years
ago, when we first caught sight of those pearls. I am ten years
younger. I prefer a bold stroke for life to a weak submission to fate,
with this dismal waiting for help to come to us. By the great horn
spoon! a thousand such pearl banks as we cleaned out wouldn't tempt me
to spend another year on this hated island----"

At this instant the voice of Inez was heard, excitedly calling to
them, and while they rose to the sitting position and looked
inquiringly in that direction, she was seen to spring through the open
door of the cabin, and to come running toward them on the beach,
bareheaded and with her long, yellow hair streaming in the wind.

"What can be the matter with her?" exclaimed the captain, rising to
his feet. "What is she saying?"

"Hark!"

The dist