pistols, while the legs of
another were encased in high boots, and he had on a handsomely
embroidered coat, used by the owner on grand occasions.

"The old people will not follow us or give the alarm," said Jansen. "We
have gagged and bound them, for we heard them moving about in the next
room, and if we hadn't been quick about it they would have given the
alarm, and the whole village would soon have been awake."

The men had not returned empty handed. Some had brought in a further
supply of provisions which they had found in the house, and several
articles they had picked up.

Having made a hearty supper, "Now, my lads," I said, "it is time to
start. The people in the village must be fast asleep, and the further
off we get, the better chance we shall have of keeping ahead of our
pursuers. One of us must act as leader. Who will do so?"

The men at once unanimously chose Tom Tubbs. Harry and I were glad of
this, as we felt sure that he was the best person for the post. "Well,
my lads, if you will obey me, I'll do what I can to lead you well," he
said. "Now, the first thing I have to charge you is to keep silence.
Follow me!" He noiselessly opened the door and looked carefully about.
Neither seeing nor hearing any one, he gave as the signal to move on.
Harry and I went next, and the other men followed in single file. They
knew that the slightest noise would betray them. For what they could
tell, the captain himself might be on shore; and should we be caught, he
would certainly visit us with severe punishment. We treaded our way
silently through the village, keeping at a distance from the barracoons,
the guards at which would otherwise have discovered us. The country was
sufficiently open to enable us to see the stars overhead, by which we
guided our course to the southward. When we approached any huts, we
turned aside, taking care not to go through any plantations, where, by
breaking down the stalks, we should leave traces of our passage.

After going some distance we stopped to listen. We could hear two or
three dogs barking, one replying to the other, but no human voices.
This made us hope, at all events, that we were not discovered. Again we
went on at a pretty quick rate, considering that five of our party had
not been on their feet for several weeks. At last the men called a
halt. "We had better not stop yet, lads," said Tom Tubbs; "we must put
a good many miles between us and the village before