h to stifle a man. I know what I'm going to do, though, along with
them as like to join me."

"You're going to do what I tells you," said Humpy Dee sourly; "I'm going
to be head-man here; and if you don't you'll find yourself wishing you
hadn't been born."

The man growled something in an undertone, and Humpy made an offer at
him as if to strike, causing his companion in misfortune to flinch back
to avoid the expected blow.

"Look here, boys," said Humpy; "if every one here's going to try to do
things on his own hook we shall do nothing, so what you've got to do is
to stick by me. We're not going to be sold here like a gang o' black
slaves."

"But we are sold," said the man who had shrunk away.

"Never mind that; we're not going to work, then," said Humpy. "We're
going to slip off into the woods, get to that there river, and do
something better than spear or bale out salmon. We're going to take the
first boat we see and get round to the coast, and then keep along till
we find a ship to take us off."

"Well, that's what I meant," said the other man.

"Then you'll be all right," said Humpy.

So far, without paying attention, Pete had heard every word, and his
blood began to course faster through his veins at the thought of
escaping and helping Nic back to his friends; but, though he strove
hard, not another word reached his ears; for Humpy leaned forward and
began speaking in a hoarse whisper, his companions bending towards him,
as he said with a peculiar intensity:

"We've got to get back home, lads, and not stop here to rot in the sun
to make money for whoever's bought us; but there's something to do
first."

"What?" said one of the men, for Humpy Dee had stopped and sat in the
gloom, glaring savagely at the farther side of the place.

"Wait, and you'll hear," was the reply; and there was another pause,
during which Nic uttered a low, weary sigh, and let himself fall
sideways, so that his head sank in Pete's lap, and, utterly exhausted,
he dropped off to sleep.

"You know how it all was," Humpy went on at last. "I aren't going to
name no names, but some 'un was jealous-like o' me, and wanting to take
the lead always; and, when he found he couldn't, he goes and blabs to
the young master yonder. Well, we're not going to take him back--we've
not going to tell him how we're going to do it."

"Have told him. Spoke loud enough," said the man who had received the
rebuff.

Humpy leaned towards him, and