better take them with us."

"I suppose that will be the best plan," Jim agreed. "I do not know that
it will make much difference in the end, for they must be left tied
somewhere; still, it would certainly make it safer for us."

Accordingly the men were lifted into the boat and laid down in the
bottom. Then the boys threw off the female garments, and taking the long
poles punted the boat out into the lake. The water was so shallow, that
it was not until they had gone more than a mile from shore that they
laid in the poles and took to the clumsy oars. An hour's rowing, and the
shore began to rise high in front of them. As they approached it they
stopped rowing, and listened attentively.

"Now, before we go any nearer we had better gag these fellows," Jack
said. "If they were to set-to to shout as soon as we had landed, our
chance of getting back again would be at an end."

They tore off two strips from the cloths, rolled them up, and put them
in the prisoners' mouths, putting some lashings across so that they
could not get them out; then they put the men so far apart in the boat
that they could not touch each other, and lashed them in these
positions. This done they again wrapped themselves in their women's
garments, and quietly rowed to the shore. They had but little fear of
finding anyone here. The natives, if no landing had been effected from
the ships, would be all engaged in the work of plundering; while if the
English had taken possession of the town they would probably be keeping
in their houses. No one was near when they landed, and fastening the
head-rope of the boat to a stone they pushed her gently off again.

"If anyone should come along," Jim said, "it is too dark for them to see
those fellows lying in the boat. Now, we must take our bearings
accurately as we go along, so as to be able to find the boat again if
things go wrong with us."

They had landed half a mile beyond the town, and now made their way
towards it. As they came to the houses a few people were about, but no
one paid any attention to the three veiled figures. The glare of light
was a sufficient indication to them of the direction they should follow,
for they had agreed that if a landing had been made the sailors would be
certain to be at work trying to put a stop to the spread of the flames.

Presently they came to the edge of the district swept by the fire. The
walls for the most part were standing, although in many cases they had
fal