vessel. We were still not certain
even now that our masters would not make chase after us, so we didn't
stop a moment, except just to look round, but pulled right away to sea.
Just as we got outside we caught sight of the pirate fleet under sail,
standing to the nor'ard. We therefore pulled south, not that there was
much chance of their coming back, but we thought that if we went in
their wake we should not fall in with any merchant vessel, for at any
rate if they should have met one they would to a certainty have robbed
and scuttled her.

"We supposed that there were other islands away to the westward, but
then they might be inhabited by the same cut-throat sort of fellows as
those from whom we had escaped, and we didn't want to fall into their
hands. Our chief hope was to be picked up by some passing vessel or
other, perhaps by our own ship, but Jack said he thought she would not
have remained at the station, and would have long ago given up searching
for us. It was hot work paddling away all day, and we would have given
much for a sail, but the boat was not fitted for one, and she was not
fitted either for a heavy sea--not that there was much chance of that
getting up at such time of the year. We had plenty of food and water,
so we kept up our spirits. Where we were going to neither of us could
tell; all we knew was that we were our own masters. We were queer
characters to look at, with our clothes all torn to shreds, our hair
long, and our faces as brown as berries. No one would have taken us for
Englishmen, but we had English tongues and English hearts, and we made
up our minds to stick at it and not be downcast. We wanted to get away
as far as we could from the shore, for fear any of the natives might
come after us--not that there was much chance of that. We paddled and
paddled till our arms ached, and we were well-nigh roasted with the hot
sun. We were thankful when night came on, and we were able to rest and
take some food.

"We had agreed to keep watch and watch, but it was of no use trying to
keep awake, so we both lay down in the bottom of the boat and went fast
asleep. When we awoke it was broad daylight, and presently up came the
sun and beat down on our heads as hot as the day before. There we were
floating on the sea with the water calm as a mill-pond, and not a sail
in sight. There was no chance either of a vessel coming near us while
the calm continued. We took our breakfasts, however, a