I will assuredly keep
whatever pressure may be laid upon me, it being understood of course
that the oath in no way prevents my taking any opportunity that may
present itself of making my escape."

"That is quite understood," the captain said. "That is a mere matter
of business. You try to escape if you can; I shoot you if I catch you
at it. But I do not think you are likely to succeed. But in justice to
my employers and friends I should not be justified in running even
that slight risk unless convinced that if you succeed you will keep
silence as to this. Now, what oath will you take?"

"No oath can be more binding to me than my promise, sir; but at the
same time I swear upon my word of honor that I will never give any
information or hint that will lead any one to the discovery of this
harbor."

"That will do," the captain said. "I have liked your face from the
moment you came on board, and feel that I can trust your word."

"I am sure you can do that, captain," Jacques put in; "from what I
have seen of the boy I am certain he will keep the promise he has
made."

"Very well then," the captain said; "that is settled. You can go on
shore in the next boat, and I shall advise you to take the
opportunity, for I warn you that you will not get the chance of
rambling on shore again until we return here next time. You need not
come on board before to-morrow morning."

Half an hour later Ralph went ashore with the last batch of sailors.
He soon found that a general license had been granted. A barrel of rum
and several casks of wine had been broached, and the men were
evidently bent upon making up for the spell of severe discipline that
they had lately gone through.

Jacques Clery had gone ashore in the same boat with Ralph.

"What are you going to do, lad?"

"I am going for a walk," Ralph said. "In the first place everything is
new to me and I want to see the vegetation; and in the second place I
can see that in a very short time most of the hands will be drunk, and
I dare say quarrelsome, and I don't want either to drink or quarrel. I
think I am better away from them."

"You are right boy, and I don't care if I go too. We will take a drink
of wine before we start and fill up our pockets with those biscuits. I
will get the storekeeper to give us a bottle of wine to take with us,
and then we shall be set up for the day. This is my first voyage in
these parts; but I have heard from others of their doings, and don't
ca