somewhere under
shelter."

Just as the windlass pawls gave their first clink the dinghy was
lowered, and in a few seconds shot out from the brig's side. Reaching
the wharf steps, one man jumped out and held the boat, whilst the other
two lifted out the inanimate figure of the Custom House officer,
carried him up the wharf, and laid him down under the shelter of a
housed-in donkey-engine. Then one of them, the boatswain, thrust
Barry's letter into the man's breast-pocket, and the two left him. In
less than ten minutes the boat was alongside again and being hoisted up.

As the brig's forefoot came over her anchor Rawlings, who gave his
orders very quietly, waited for a favourable moment. A gust of wind
canted her head away from the shores of the little bay, and in a few
seconds her anchor was a-trip, and under her fore and main topsails and
headsails only the _Mahina_ wore round, and began to slip through the
water.

As soon as the anchor was secured Rawlings came for'ard and stood
beside his chief mate, watching the shore lights.

"That'll do, Mr. Barry. We're all right now. With this westerly we
won't run foul of anything coming up the harbour. Leave a couple of
these native chaps here on the look-out; they can see through a stone
wall."

In less than an hour the brig was between the heads, and then Rawlings
told Barry to make more sail, and gave the helmsman his course, E.N.E.

As the mate called out to the hands to loose the topgallant sails, and
half a dozen men sprang aloft, the captain turned to Barry.

"Oh, I had quite forgotten those gaol-birds. Bos'un, bring a light.
Come with me, Mr. Barry, and," he added, "bring one of these with you,"
as he took a belaying-pin out of the rail.

Wondering what was now afoot, Barry followed the skipper to the
deck-house, the after part of which was used as a sail locker. The
door was locked.

"Hold that light up, bos'un," said Rawlings quietly, as he took a key
from his pocket, and opened the door. "Now then, men, come out, and
look smart about it."

One by one the four rough fellows whom Barry had seen on the wharf in
the afternoon came out. The tallest of them, with a sullen look at the
captain, muttered something under his breath.

"None of that, now," said Rawlings, and quick as lightning he dealt the
man a smashing blow on the head with the iron belaying-pin. He fell
full length upon the deck and lay there motionless. Rawlings looked at
him wit