d than that of venturing to sea in
the unprepared longboat. Such as it was, however, I determined to
submit it to Gurney's consideration, and hear what he thought of it.

Accordingly, watching my opportunity, I contrived to get hold of Grace
Hartley, on the following evening, after supper, and whispered to her
that I intended to walk up to the Head again, and would be glad if she
and Gurney would follow me to the spot where we had had our previous
talk together. To which she replied that they would certainly do so;
and half an hour later the pair joined me.

"Well, Mr Troubridge," exclaimed Gurney, as we met, "I hope this
summons means that you have succeeded in hitting upon some scheme which
will enable us all three to get away from here without delay; for I may
as well tell you that the council have to-day decided to complete the
loading of the _Mercury_ and dispatch her to Canton forthwith. And,
although Wilde did not say so in so many words, I have every reason to
believe that the pretty little programme which I sketched out to you
last night is to be carried through."

"So much the greater reason why you and I, Gurney, should make up our
minds at once what is to be done," said I.

"Yes; you are right," answered Gurney. "For I have not yet told you the
whole of the story, nor how it affects Grace and me. I, as one of the
council, am to go in the ship, ostensibly for the purpose of transacting
the commercial part of the business--the disposal of the ship and cargo,
the purchase of another vessel, and of a cargo of tea, and so on; but
actually--as I have only too much reason to fear--in order that, during
my absence, Wilde may have an opportunity to force Grace to marry him."

"I see," said I. "Well, Gurney, the only scheme that I have thus far
been able to think of is of so mad and desperate a character that I
gravely doubt whether you will feel justified in having anything to do
with it."

"Let us hear what it is, Mr Troubridge," answered Gurney. "It will
have to be something pretty desperate to choke Grace and me off it; for
I can tell you we are growing more than a trifle desperate ourselves."

"Well," said I, "to put the scheme baldly, I simply propose that we
three shall run off with the ship, sail her to Sydney, hand her over to
the authorities, telling the whole truth, and take our chance of what
may follow. I doubt whether they would deal hardly with either of us.
Miss Hartley is of course quit