I know all about it. You broke me, didn't you?"

"I did; but I am sorry fur it now."

"It is rather late in the day to make apologies, governor. If you had
treated me like a gentleman, those students wouldn't have got out."

"I don't understand you, Muley."

"Well, I let them out. You understand me now, don't you?"

Sam, upon hearing this, started up from the ground and glared at Tom so
savagely that the latter began to be alarmed.

"I couldn't help it, governor," said he. "It's my plan to get even with
any fellow who imposes upon me. You played me a mean trick, and I paid
you off in your own coin."

"Well, the thing is done now," said Sam, settling back on his elbow,
"an' it can't be undone. Perhaps it was the best thing that could have
happened to us, fur, since I have had time to think the matter over, I
have come to the conclusion that our cruise would not have been a long
one. That was a terrible storm, Muley, an' the waves were uncommon high.
I found that out the minute I got into 'em. I never expected to come out
alive, an' I hadn't any more than touched the water, till I'd been
willin' to give something nice to get back on board the yacht. But luck
was on my side for once, an' throwed a spar in my way. Where it come
from I don't know; but it was there, an' it saved me. It drifted into
the harbor, carryin' me with it; an' when I come to a place where I
thought I could swim, I struck out for the wharf. It was then almost
daylight, an', as I didn't care about bein' seen, I found a safe
hidin'-place an' stayed there durin' the day, thinkin' an' layin' my
plans. When night come, I stole this skiff an' started for the island.
The next day I found this cove; an', seein' in a minute that it was just
the place for me, I brought my boat around, an' I've been here ever
since. I've made three visits to the village--that's the way I come to
learn the channels--and I've got my bed, all my clothes, an' several
other handy little articles I found layin' around. I wanted to see you
an' find out what was goin' on, but I didn't dare to show myself, fur I
didn't know but you had gone back on me. Rats desert a sinkin' ship, you
know, an' when a feller's in disgrace, everybody gets down on him. I'm
glad to hear that the other fellers are all right, 'cause I've done a
heap of thinkin' since I've been here. Have you given up all idea of
findin' Crusoe's island?"

"No, I haven't," replied Tom. "I'd start to-morrow, if I could fi