take my chance of that. Gracie here can bear witness that I was
never in favour of the scheme, and only joined in it with a good grace
because there seemed nothing else to be done. Now, as to the best time
for making the attempt, what is your idea about that?"

"Well," said I, "in view of the fact that it has actually been decided
to send the ship to sea, I think it will be well to wait until the cargo
is all in, and the hatches on. That will give us an opportunity to get
all our traps aboard without exciting suspicion. Then, on the night of
the day prior to the sailing of the ship, we three must go off to her,
slip her cable, make sail--as much as we can manage--and trust that we
may be able to reach open water before our flight is discovered. If the
completion of the loading can by any means be delayed until the moon
rises about an hour after midnight, so much the better."

"Oh, as to that!" answered Gurney; "the deliberate way of working that
the people have got into will make it quite a week before the loading is
finished, which will bring moonrise to somewhere about the time you
mention. The moon will have taken off to about her third quarter by
then; but even so she will give us light enough to find our way out
through the reef, which is all that we need trouble about."

"Precisely," I agreed. "Then am I to understand that you and Miss
Hartley definitely agree to throw in your lot with me in this desperate
attempt?"

"Yes, Mr Troubridge, you certainly may," answered Gurney. "At least,"
he corrected himself, "I can answer for myself. And as to Gracie here,
what say you, little woman?"

"I say, of course, that I would infinitely prefer to go with you and Mr
Troubridge," answered the girl. "The only thing is," she continued,
"that I am afraid I shall be a frightful trouble to you both. And yet I
don't know; I can cook your meals for you; and I can steer the ship in
fine weather, can't I, George?"

"Ay, that you can, as well as any man in the ship," answered Gurney. "I
taught her myself, Mr Troubridge, long before you appeared upon the
scene."

"I foresee, Miss Hartley," said I, "that, so far from being a trouble to
us, you will be absolutely indispensable to our success. And now,
Gurney, I think we had better part; for, under all the circumstances, I
believe it will scarcely be wise for you and me to be seen very much
together. Watch the progress of events in the council, and let me know
if any