urse, were afterwards to be
disposed of and the proceeds divided among us--the intention being
that when we got you on the proa, you would be pitched overboard, for
then the situation would be so changed that we could manage it without
trouble. If I thought it unsafe to make the attempt, I had only to
wait until reinforcements should come up; for the larger boat, knowing
the course I was to take on my return, had only to be on the lookout
for us, and we would be sure to descry each other."

"And that was to be your signal that you had us aboard?" said Storms,
pointing to the fluttering handkerchief.

"That's it precisely," assented Sanders. "But there was one force
which we did not think to provide against," added the young man, in a
low voice, in which Storms detected a slight tremor.

"What was that?"

"An awakened conscience," was the impressive answer. "And it was she
who aroused the sleeper. There was something in the goodness of the
girl--the faith which she showed not only in heaven but in me as
well--that upset all my calculations. Then, too, she seemed to say the
right words just at the right time; and you saw how I suffered."

"Yes; and it gave me great hope; for, Fred, I distrusted you from the
beginning. I saw many little things which you never supposed I nor any
one else would notice. And I may add," said the mate, with a sly
twinkle, "that I endeavored always to be prepared for you."

The face of Sanders flushed, but he added, with the same seriousness:

"Matters now are going in accordance with the program arranged days
ago. The large proa yonder has been waiting for us, and we are now to
keep on converging lines until we meet to-night."

"Do you intend to follow out your agreement?"

"No; I had an awful struggle with my conscience last night, after my
talk with Inez and with the poor captain, but the evil triumphed in
me, despite all I could do. The fight was still going on, being
renewed this morning, and I had about yielded to Satan, when she came
and spoke to me. That," said Fred Sanders, with a compression of the
lips, "has settled it forever. I am now your friend, and I am ready to
give up my life for the safety of you and her, hoping that heaven will
take it, with my repentance, as some atonement for the many sins I
have committed."

CHAPTER XXXIII

THE PURSUIT

There are two angels within us forever struggling for the mastery: One
is the angel of darkness, and the other of l