do, mate," said the master,
reprovingly; "and yew got 'em to work easy at last, didn't you?"

"Yes, that's what I did do, when they would work. I had to set to and
see if I couldn't get away out of that place."

"'Fore them scallywags come back," said the master, drawing a long
breath. "That's right."

"There was the door locked fast," continued Esau, "and I knew I couldn't
get out that way; so as there was no windows, and the boards were all
nailed down tight, the only way seemed to be through the roof."

"I know," said the master, changing the course of the boat. "Yew meant
to get up, knock off some shingles, and then let yewrself down with the
two ropes tied together."

"Look here," said Esau, ill-humouredly, "you'd better tell the story."

"No, no, stranger; go on, go on," said the master, apologetically. "Go
on, go on."

"Well, that's just what I was going to do," said Esau, condescendingly,
"only there wasn't any shingles that I saw, but the place was covered
over with wooden slates."

"Those are what they call shingles, my lad," said Gunson.

"Oh, very well, I don't care," said Esau, acidly. "All I know is, I
joined those two pieces of rope together, tied one end round my waist,
and I was just going to climb up the side to the rafters, when I thought
to myself I might meet somebody outside, who'd try to stop me; and
though I felt that you two would be gone, I didn't want to have taken
all my trouble for nothing, and be locked up there again. So I had a
bit of a look round, and picked out from some wood in a corner a pretty
tidy bit, with a good headache at the end."

The master chuckled.

"And I'd no sooner done that than I heard some one coming."

"Did yew get behind the door?" said the master hoarsely. "Yew said it
was dark."

"I do wish you'd let me go on my own way," said Esau, in an ill-used
tone.

"Yes, yes, yes; go on, my lad, go on," said the master.

"Why can't you let him bide!" growled the others; and I saw Gunson
looking on in an amused way, as he turned from watching the distant
schooner, far enough away now.

"My wrists and my ankles ache so I can't hardly bear it," continued
Esau; "and when you keep on putting in your spoon it worries me."

"Yes, yes, my lad; I won't do so no more."

"'Tain't as if I was a reg'lar story-teller," grumbled Esau. "I ain't
used to this sort o' thing."

"Go on telling us, Esau," I said. "They were only eager to know."

"Well," he conti