him, thank God," said Orlando, seating himself on a bank;
"and I would fain hope that the worst is over, for he sleeps. But, poor
fellow, you seem to be in a bad case. Can I do aught to relieve you?"

"Nothing," replied Rosco, with a weary sigh.

"I have sent for a surgeon--"

"A surgeon!" repeated the pirate, with a startled look; "then there must
be a man-of-war off the coast for South sea traders are not used to
carry surgeons."

"Ah! I forgot. You naturally don't wish to see any one connected with
a man-of-war. Yes, there is one here. I came in her. But you can see
this surgeon without his knowing who or what you are. It will be
sufficient for him to know that you are an unfortunate sailor who had
fallen into the hands of the savages."

"Yes," exclaimed Rosco, grasping eagerly at the idea; "and that's just
what I am. Moreover, I ran away from my ship! But--but--do _you_ not
feel it your duty to give me up?"

"What I shall feel it my duty to do ultimately is not a matter for
present consideration. Just now you require surgical assistance. But
how did you come here? and what do you mean by saying that you ran away
from your ship?"

Rosco in reply gave a brief but connected narrative of his career during
the past three years, in which he made no attempt to exculpate himself,
but, on the contrary, confessed his guilt and admitted his desert of
death.

"Yet I shrink from death," he said in conclusion. "Is it not strange
that I, who have faced death so often with perfect indifference, should
draw back from it now with something like fear?"

"A great writer," replied Orlando, "whom my father used to read to me at
home, says that `conscience makes cowards of us all.' And a still
greater authority says that `the wicked flee when no man pursueth.' You
are safe here, Rosco--at all events for the present. But you must not
go near the cave again. Rest where you are and I will search for some
place where you may remain concealed till you are well. I shall return
quickly."

Leaving the pirate where he lay, Orlando returned to his father, and,
finding that he still slept, went off to search for a cave.

He soon found a small one in the cliffs, suitable for his purpose.
Thither he carried the pirate, laid him tenderly on a couch of branches
and leaves, put food and water within his reach, and left him with a
feeling of comfort and of contentment at heart that he had not
experienced for many years.