kill his assailants, he might easily have preserved his
own safety; but unwilling to hurt them, unconscious as they were of what
they were about, he was very nearly falling a victim to his own
humanity. As he and Jack Raby sprang up the rock they got round them,
and on a sudden they found themselves attacked from behind. On turning
his head for a moment, a powerful wretch seized his sword by the blade,
and though it was cutting his hands through and through he would not let
it go. At the same instant others threw their arms round his neck, and
were dragging him to the ground, where in all probability they would
instantly have destroyed him, when two persons sprang down from the top
of the rock with heavy spars in their hands, and striking right and left
on the heads of the maniacs, compelled them to let go their hold, and
allow Linton and Raby to spring to their feet.

"Now, sir, now is your time!" exclaimed one of their deliverers. "Up to
the fortress before they rally. They have had such a lesson that they
will not think of coming there again."

Neither of the officers required a second call, and in an instant they
were in front of the tent.

"You have brought us water, sir. Thank Heaven, the breaker has not been
injured!" exclaimed the man, who had aided them so effectually, taking
it from Raby's shoulder, who poured out some into a cup which he had
brought for the purpose. As he did so Raby examined his countenance,
which, though haggard and emaciated, he recognised as belonging to an
old friend.

"What, Bowse!" he cried. "Is it you?--I am, indeed, glad to find that
you have escaped from the pirates, though we find you in a sorry
condition enough."

"Ah, Mr Raby, I knew the _Ione_ at once, and glad I am to see you,"
answered Bowse, filling the cup with water. He was about to carry it to
his own mouth, but by a powerful effort he restrained himself,
muttering, "There are others want it more than I do."

And he handed it to Linton, pointing to one of the sufferers on the
ground. Linton took the cup, and pouring a few drops of brandy into it,
gave it to the person indicated.

"What!" he exclaimed, as he did so. "Do I, indeed, see Colonel
Gauntlett? Tell me, sir, is Miss Garden here? I need not say how much
it will relieve the mind of Captain Fleetwood to know that she is safe."

The colonel groaned as he gave back the cup, saying--

"Indeed, I know nothing of my poor niece."

In a few minutes a