ed in taking
possession of them. Our associates had no scruples on the subject
Caspar fully agreed to carry out the plan we proposed, and now told us
that his shipmates were perfectly ready to escape, and try for the
future to lead peaceable lives. We did not inquire too minutely into
their motives, but I suspected that these arose not so much from their
hatred of piracy, as from being compelled constantly to fight with the
fear of a rope's end before their eyes. I told the two old blacks that
the wounded men required as much food as they could obtain, and they
brought us an abundant supply. We accordingly had a hearty supper, but
we were to make a scurvy return to them for their kindness. As soon as
it was dark, the men got up and dressed themselves. Harry and I groped
our way to the room where we had seen the fowling-pieces, which, with
the ammunition, were at once secured.

"There's more to be found in the house than those things," observed
Jansen. "We shall want a fresh rig out. What say you, mates? Besides
which, if old Dobbo and his wife hear us moving about, they will give
the alarm, so we must settle them first." Saying this, he took up the
lamp, and, followed by the rest, quitted the room, leaving Harry and me
in darkness. Soon afterwards we heard a slight scream, then all was
silent. We waited a quarter of an hour or more. The time was
approaching when we expected to see Tubbs. Presently we heard a knock
at the shutter of the room. Of course there was no glass. I opened it,
and Tubbs sprang in. We knew him by his figure, though there was not
light sufficient to see his countenance.

"Are you alone?" he whispered.

"Yes," answered Harry; "the others have gone to see what they can find
in the house likely to be useful on the journey. We secured some
fowling-pieces; we could not defend our lives without them."

"And I have brought off a brace of pistols and a hanger," said the
boatswain.

"We shall do very well then; but I almost wish that we had attempted to
escape without those other fellows--they are likely to bring us into
trouble by their lawless ways," said Harry.

This was indeed too probable. While we were speaking they returned.
They had sense enough to suppress their voices, and as Caspar, who
carried the light, entered, I saw that they were all rigged out in the
trader's clothes, which they had appropriated. One had got a musket,
another a sword, and others richly ornamented