ese men want."

I spoke the truth in regard to the drugs, the only question was how much
the men required of them. As the captain did not forbid me, as soon as
he was out of sight I hurried down to the beach, and got a black fellow
to paddle me on board in his canoe. I soon found a big bottle, and made
up the mixture according to the recipe, which I took good care to keep
in my hand, so that anybody could see what I had been about. I looked
round for Tubbs, and when I returned on deck, much to my satisfaction I
found him working at the mizen rigging with no one else near. I
hastened up to him, and in a low voice said--

"The rest are ready. Will you come to-night or to-morrow night?
although I fear if we put it off till to-morrow you may be too late. We
will, however, wait for you if you will come."

"Yes," he answered, "wait! I will be on shore an hour before midnight.
By that time the black fellows will have turned in. Tell the negro who
brought you off that there will be a couple of doubloons for him if he
comes alongside at the hour I name. If he fails me, I must swim on
shore, although there is a risk of being snapt up by a shark or a stray
crocodile. However, I may find another chance before that of getting on
shore. Now you'd better be off, for it won't do for you to be seen
lingering about talking with me."

I followed his advice, and got into the canoe. As the black paddled me
on shore, I asked him if he would like to obtain a doubloon. I knew
very well what would be his answer. Being a discreet personage, he
asked no further questions, but promised to be alongside at the hour I
named.

On landing, I hurried to the house, which was some way up the beach, and
told Harry of the arrangements I had made. I then explained more
clearly to Caspar Caper than I had hitherto done the plan Harry and I
proposed, which was to direct our course to the southward, and then to
strike directly for the coast, where we might hope to be taken off, or
to find a canoe or craft of some sort, in which to make our way to one
of the European settlements. The means of subsistence we hoped to find
in the forest if we could obtain firearms. As I had been going about
the house one day, I had seen a couple of fowling-pieces, with
powder-horns and shot-belts, hanging against the wall Harry doubted
whether we had a right to take them; but necessity has no law, and in
this case we came to the conclusion that we were justifi