ich they held in their hands
was made fast to the nearest tree, and Friday, after tying the lantern
around his waist, descended out of sight. In a few minutes he
re-appeared, climbing the rope, which was pulled up and hidden away in
the bushes.

"That job is done," said the chief, with a long breath of relief, "an'
them two fellers are fastened up as tight as if they were in jail. I'll
larn 'em how to get up a mutiny!"

"But, governor, how will we get across?" asked Friday.

"Easy enough. One of us will climb up an' make one end of the rope fast
to this tree that leans over the gully, an' we'll swing back an' forth
just as we did before. The next job we've got to do aint so easy. It's
one I don't like; but, if I was a prisoner, I'd think it mighty mean of
my men if they deserted me, an' I'm goin' to do to the cap'n an' Xury
just as I'd like to be done by."

The governor and his man ascended to the top of the bluff, and bent
their steps toward the farm-house, which was now shrouded in total
darkness. The inmates had all retired to rest, happy in the belief that
those of the band who had escaped had made the best of their way to the
village, and that their potato-patch was safe for the rest of the night.
But the Crusoe men, apprehensive that the farmer might still be on the
watch, were at first very cautious in their movements. They walked
around the house several times without seeing any signs of the enemy,
and, growing bolder by degrees, began to search the out-buildings,
hoping that Tom and his mate might be confined in one of them. But their
efforts to ascertain the whereabouts of their unlucky companions were
unrewarded, and, after half an hour's fruitless search, even Sam began
to get discouraged.

"Mebbe they have taken them to the village already," he whispered,
leaning disconsolately against a corner of the house. "If they have, the
expedition is up stump, easy enough, an' we can bid good-by to all hopes
of ever seein' our island. What's that? Didn't you hear some one call?"

"I thought I did," replied Friday, "but I wasn't sartin'."

"I say, governor, are you deaf? Look this way. Here we are."

The words seemed to come from the ground at their very feet; and the
governor and Friday heard them plainly enough this time. Their attention
was drawn to one of the cellar windows, and there they saw the two
prisoners, with their faces pressed close against the bars.

"What are you doin' down there?" asked Frid