everal other
circumstances with which I must acquaint you. First of all, there is no
bullet in your pistols, which (if you remember) I was kind enough to
load for both of us this morning. Secondly, as there is some one else
who knows a passage, you must think it highly improbable I should saddle
myself with a lunatic like you. Thirdly, these gentlemen (who need no
longer pretend to be asleep) are those of my party, and will now proceed
to gag and bind you to the mast; and when your men awaken (if they ever
do awake after the drugs we have mingled in their liquor), I am sure
they will be so obliging as to deliver you, and you will have no
difficulty, I daresay, to explain the business of the keys."

Not a word said Teach, but looked at us like a frightened baby as we
gagged and bound him.

"Now you see, you moon-calf," says Ballantrae, "why we made four
packets. Heretofore you have been called Captain Teach, but I think you
are now rather Captain Learn."

That was our last word on board the _Sarah_. We four, with our four
packets, lowered ourselves softly into a skiff, and left that ship
behind us as silent as the grave, only for the moaning of some of the
drunkards. There was a fog about breast-high on the waters; so that
Dutton, who knew the passage, must stand on his feet to direct our
rowing; and this, as it forced us to row gently, was the means of our
deliverance. We were yet but a little way from the ship, when it began
to come grey, and the birds to fly abroad upon the water. All of a
sudden Dutton clapped down upon his hams, and whispered us to be silent
for our lives, and hearken. Sure enough, we heard a little faint creak
of oars upon one hand, and then again, and farther off, a creak of oars
upon the other. It was clear we had been sighted yesterday in the
morning; here were the cruiser's boats to cut us out; here were we
defenceless in their very midst. Sure, never were poor souls more
perilously placed; and as we lay there on our oars, praying God the mist
might hold, the sweat poured from my brow. Presently we heard one of the
boats where we might have thrown a biscuit in her. "Softly, men," we
heard an officer whisper; and I marvelled they could not hear the
drumming of my heart.

"Never mind the path," says Ballantrae; "we must get shelter anyhow;
let us pull straight ahead for the sides of the basin."

This we did with the most anxious precaution, rowing, as best we could,
upon our hands, and stee