ame through the Bahamas. Certainly our chances are exceedingly small,
for we must needs land in a country that is infested with our enemies,
but we will do our best."

"Tell me your plan, Pharaoh."

"'Tis simplicity itself, master. To-night it is my watch. When the
captain is asleep in his cabin, do you come on deck and go aft. You will
find a boat alongside, and into it you must contrive to get as you best
can. Hide yourself there so that no one can see you from the deck. When
the watch is changed, instead of going forward I shall make for the
boat. No one will see me, I promise you. When I am with you we shall cut
the boat adrift and let the vessel outsail us. Then we must make for the
coast in the direction of Tuxtla. We shall know which way to steer
because of the volcano. But after that--why, I know not what we shall
do."

"Have you no plan?"

"Marry, I have ideas. We might go across country to Acapulco, hoping to
find there an English ship; but 'tis a long and weary way, and what with
Indians and wild beasts I fear we should never get there. Howbeit let us
tackle one danger at a time."

Being then called to dinner I went below, and was perforce once more
obliged to sit at meat with my jailer, who, now that his charge of me
was coming to an end, was more polite than ever, and treated me with
exceeding great courtesy.

"You have been on deck, Master Salkeld," said he, "and have doubtless
perceived that we are in sight of land."

"I have seen the great mountain, Senor," I answered.

"True, the land is yet little more than a line. If the wind had been
fair we should have dropped anchor ere midnight. Your voyage has been a
long one, but I trust you have not been inconvenienced."

"Only as a man may be by the loss of his liberty, Senor."

"You will soon be free," he answered, giving me one of his strange,
mocking smiles. "And I trust that when we part it will be with a full
recognition on your side of the way in which I have carried out our
bargain."

"As I do not remember our bargain, Senor, I am afraid that is hardly
possible," I made answer.

"Chut! your memory is certainly at fault. However, the facts will
probably occur to you--later."

"Part of the bargain, if I remember your first mention of it, Senor, was
that you should carry me to the West Indies."

"You are right in that," said he.

"Are we approaching the West Indies?"

"The West Indies is a wide term, Master Salkeld. We are certainly no