means of which she knew the secret, when the
wretched man who was reserved for the sacrifice was seen crouching in
darkness at the farther end of the cave. He came toward us bent double.
There was a scared look upon his face. The light dazzled him. I knew
him at once, and held my breath. It was Van Luck. When he saw me he
threw himself upon his knees and implored me to save him, but I told
him I had no power to avert his death even if I would. In answer to my
question as to how he came upon the island, he answered, that almost at
the same time as I had been washed overboard he himself had been
precipitated by a wave into the sea.

"Well, Van Luck," I said to him. "It seemeth to me that the hand of
Providence is in this business. But for your conduct we had both now
been on board the 'Arms of Amsterdam,' yet no sooner was I cast into
the sea by your treachery than you were made to follow me, to be
brought to this island, where, but for your coming, I would have been
subject to the cruel fate which now awaits you."

"Mercy!" he cried. "I do not fear death. But the death that I am to
suffer is not for a human to contemplate. If you cannot save me, at
least kill me, so that I may escape the torture of being devoured
alive."

But I was powerless to aid him, and at a sign from Melannie, who was
fearful lest our visit might be discovered, I stepped back, as the rock
at the mouth of the cave returned to its place, and consigned the
miserable captive to a darkness from which he would not emerge until
the time for the sacrifice.

CHAPTER XXI

A PLAN OF ESCAPE

I was now of two minds, whether to make terms with Ackbau or to
endeavour to escape with Melannie from the Island of Gems in the boat
we had made ready for sea. On the one hand was immediate safety, and
the prospect of some ship calling at the island in which I might return
to civilization. On the other was a hazardous journey alone with a
young girl, who could not be expected to realize the dangers which lay
before her. Was I justified, I asked myself, in exposing the queen to
the tragedy which might await us upon the ocean? If captured I had no
doubt that both of us would be condemned by Ackbau to a cruel death,
and if we succeeded in getting away how should we exist until some
chance vessel came to our rescue? I mentioned my fears to Melannie, but
she would not hear of abandoning the project we had formed.

"Let us go, Peter," she urged. "Nothing but dea