ss with his back towards me, and only a few yards from
the place in which we were concealed. The rest, after making fast the
boat, started off on an exploring expedition, in the direction of the
old hut.

CHAPTER FORTY NINE.

The captives were grouped together, some sitting, and some standing.
Not one of them looked dejected at his fate; though I could see by their
movements that they were impatient of the bonds that tied them. My
attention was most frequently directed to the old gentleman who had been
addressed as Mr Evelyn. Notwithstanding the grief expressed in his
countenance, it possessed an air of benevolence and kindness of heart
that even his settled melancholy did not conceal. I could not
understand why, but I felt a deeper interest for this person than for
any of the others--a sort of yearning towards him, mingled with a desire
to protect him from the malice of his enemies.

Almost as soon as they were gone, John Gough beckoned to Mr Evelyn to
sit down by his side. Possibly this was done to prevent his assisting
his companions to regain their liberty, as he, not being pinioned like
the rest, might easily have done, and they might have overpowered their
guard before his companions could come to his assistance. But Gough was
well armed, and the rest being without weapons of any kind, it was
scarcely probable that they would have risked their lives on so
desperate an attempt.

Mr Evelyn came and quietly sat himself down in the place indicated. I
observed him with increasing interest, and, singular to relate, the more
I gazed on his venerable face, the more strongly I felt assured that I
had seen it before. This of course was impossible; nevertheless, the
fancy took possession of me, and I experienced a strange sensation of
pleasure as I watched the changes his features underwent.

"John Gough, I am sorry to see you mixed up in this miserable business,"
said he, mildly addressing his companion. The other did not answer, and
as his back was turned towards me, I could not observe the effect the
observation had upon him.

"The men who have left us, I know to be bad men," continued the speaker;
"I expect nothing but wickedness from them. But you, I am aware, have
been better brought up. Your responsibility therefore becomes the
greater in assisting them in their villainy."

"You had better not let them hear you, Mr Evelyn," replied Gough, at
last, in something like a surly tone; "I would not ans