cond when I saw one o' them go
up to the captain flourishing a knife, and before I could wink he
plunged it into his breast, while another yell, like the one that roused
me, rang upon my ear. I didn't wait for more, but bounding up, went
crashing through the bushes into the woods. The black fellows caught
sight of me, however, but not in time to prevent me jumpin' into the
boat, as you know."

Bill seemed to be much exhausted after this recital, and shuddered
frequently during the narrative; so I refrained from continuing the
subject at that time, and endeavoured to draw his mind to other things.

"But now, Bill," said I, "it behoves us to think about the future, and
what course of action we shall pursue. Here we are, on the wide
Pacific, in a well-appointed schooner, which is our own--at least, no
one has a better claim to it than we have--and the world lies before us.
Moreover, here comes a breeze, so we must make up our minds which way
to steer."

"Ralph, boy," said my companion, "it matters not to me which way we go.
I fear that my time is short now. Go where you will; I'm content."

"Well, then, Bill, I think we had better steer to the Coral Island and
see what has become of my dear old comrades, Jack and Peterkin. I
believe the island has no name, but the captain once pointed it out to
me on the chart, and I marked it afterwards; so, as we know pretty well
our position just now, I think I can steer to it. Then, as to working
the vessel, it is true I cannot hoist the sails single-handed, but
luckily we have enough of sail set already; and if it should come on to
blow a squall, I could at least drop the peaks of the main and fore
sails, and clew them up partially without help, and throw her head close
into the wind, so as to keep her all shaking till the violence of the
squall is past. And if we have continued light breezes, I'll rig up a
complication of blocks and fix them to the topsail halyards, so that I
shall be able to hoist the sails without help. 'Tis true I'll require
half-a-day to hoist them, but we don't need to mind that. Then I'll
make a sort of erection on deck to screen you from the sun, Bill; and if
you can only manage to sit beside the tiller and steer for two hours
every day, so as to let me get a nap, I'll engage to let you off duty
all the rest of the twenty-four hours. And if you don't feel able for
steering, I'll lash the helm and heave-to while I get you your
breakfasts and dinne