t he should make his escape
on the first point of South America at which they touched. Land was at
last in sight. Hope was high in the breast of Will Osten, and
expressive glances passed between him and his friends in captivity,
when, alas! the land turned out to be a small island, so low that they
could see right across it, and so scantily covered with vegetation that
human beings evidently deemed it unworthy of being possessed.

"There's niver a sowl upon it," remarked Larry O'Hale, in a tone of
chagrin.

"Maybe not," said Griffin, who overheard the observation; "but there's
plenty of _bodies_ on it if not souls, and, as we are short of
provisions, I intend to lay-to, and give you a chance of seeing them.
Get ready to go ashore; I'm not afraid of you _wandering too far_!"

Griffin wound up this speech with a low chuckle and a leer, which sent a
chill to the heart not only of Will Osten but of Larry and Muggins also,
for it convinced them that their new master had guessed their intention,
and that he would, of course, take every precaution to prevent its being
carried out. After the first depression of spirits, consequent on this
discovery, the three friends became more than ever determined to outwit
their enemy, and resolved to act, in the meantime, with perfect
submission and prompt obedience--as they had hitherto done. Of course,
each reserved in his own mind the right of rebellion if Griffin should
require them to do any criminal act, and they hoped fervently that they
should not fall in with any vessel that might prove a temptation to
their new captain.

A few minutes after this, the order was given to lower one of the boats,
and a crew jumped into her, among whom were Larry and Muggins. Will
Osten asked permission to go, and Griffin granted his request with a
grin that was the reverse of amiable.

"Musha! what sort o' bodies did the capting main?" said Larry, when they
had pulled beyond earshot of the ship.

"Ha, paddy," replied one of the men, "they're pleasant fat bodies--
amusin' to catch and much thought of by aldermen;--turtles no less."

"Ah! then, it's jokin' ye are."

"Not I. I never joke."

"Turthles is it--green fat an' all?"

"Ay, an' shells too."

"Sure it's for the coppers they're wanted."

"Just so, Larry, an' if you'll ship your oar an jump out wi' the
painter, we'll haul the boat up an' show you how to catch 'em."

As the sailor spoke, the boat's keel grated on the sand, and