their
unhappy comrades. As for me, I was so amazed at the news that Cornelys
Jensen was alive that I stood for awhile like one stunned, and could say
nothing, but only stare at those pale faces and wonder dumbly. When
after awhile the power of speech did return to me I strove with many
questions to find out how Jensen was thus restored to life and to evil
deeds, but as to that they none of them knew anything. If the marvel of
Jensen's reappearance was the greatest marvel, marvel only second to it
was how the sailors who obeyed him came to have weapons for their
business. As to that, again, the fugitives could give no help. The
sailors had arms, every man of them, muskets and pistols and cutlasses,
and had used them with deadly effect. It was all a mystery that made our
senses sick to think upon.

Of one thing the fugitives were very positive--that Jensen and his
murderers would very soon make a descent upon our island, in the hope of
surprising us unawares and killing us. For now they were very numerous,
and at least as well-armed as we were, and would make very formidable
enemies. The only wonder was that they had not already attempted it, but
the men believed that the villains were so engrossed in a swinish orgie
after their triumph as to be heedless of time or prudence. So here were
we--but thirty-two men in all, not counting these fugitives--and with
one woman, though so brave an one--in urgent peril. It was fortunate for
us all that in Lancelot's youth there was an alliance of courage with
skill which would have done credit to a general of fifty. I was not much
in those days in the way of giving advice, but I was strong and active,
and ready to obey Lancelot in all things, which was what was most wanted
of me in that juncture. We had every reason to be confident in the
fidelity and courage of the men who were with us, and our confidence was
not misplaced.

The first thing to be done was to settle the fugitives in the utmost
comfort we could afford them. We put them to rest in one of our tents we
had built, and gave to each of them a taste of strong waters, after
which we urged them to sleep if they could, adding, to encourage them in
that effort, that the sooner their bodies were refreshed by rest and
food the better they would be able to bear their part in resisting the
common enemy. This argument had great weight with the men, who were very
willing to be of help, but too hopelessly worn out just then to be of
t