us here without food, and with our
hands tied behind us?" fiercely exclaimed Master Trench, whose wrath at
any thing like injustice was always prone to get the better of his
wisdom.

"As to grub," answered Swinton, "there's plenty of that around, if you
only exert yourself to find it. I won't cut your lashin's, however,
till we are fairly in the boat, for we can't trust you. Come along,
lads; and, Garnet, you bring the boy with ye."

Under the impression that he was to be separated from his father and
friend, and taken back again to the islet, poor Oliver, whom they had
not thought it worth while to bind, struggled with a ferocity that would
have done credit to the wildcats with which he had been compared; but
Garnet was a strong man, and held him fast.

"Take it easy, my boy," said Paul, who, being helpless, could only look
on with intense pity. "Submit to God's will--we will pray for you."

But Olly's spirit could by no means reach the submitting point until he
was fairly exhausted. While they dragged him towards the boat, Taylor
turned back and flung a small canvas bag at the captain's feet.

"There, Master Trench," he said, "you'll find a lump o' pork in that bag
to keep you goin' till ye get hold o' somethin' else. An' don't take on
about the boy. _We_ don't want 'im, bless you. Why, we only want to
prevent him settin' you free before we gets fairly away."

This was true. When the boat was reached and the men were on board,
ready to shove off, Garnet, still holding Olly fast by the arm, said,
"Keep still, will you, and hear what Master Swinton has got to say?"

"Now, you fiery polecat," said Swinton, "you may go and cut their
lashin's, and take _that_ as a parting gift."

The gift was a sounding box on the ear; but Olly minded it not, for
while Garnet was speaking, as he stood knee-deep in the water close to
the boat, he had observed an axe lying on one of the thwarts near to
him. The instant he was set free, therefore, he seized the axe, and,
flourishing it close past Garnet's nose, with a cheer of defiance he
sprang towards the beach. Garnet leaped after him, but he was no match
for the agile boy, who in another minute had severed Paul's bonds and
placed the weapon in his hands.

"Hallo! hi, you've forgot _me_. Cut my--ho!"

But there was no occasion for Master Trench to cry out and struggle with
the cords that bound him. A furious rush of Paul with the axe caused
Garnet to double with the