ns.

"You see the sort of place you are in," said O'Harrall. "It is not one
from which you could easily escape, however much you might desire it;
but let me advise you not to make the attempt. You would to a certainty
be retaken, and I could not save you from the fate to which you would be
doomed. I have already shown that I desire to serve you. I could not
help capturing the _Ouzel Galley_, for the signal made by one of your
crew showed my people that she was a prize worth taking; although I knew
her at once, and guessed that you must be in command, I could not help
myself."

Owen made no reply to these remarks. Bad as a man may be, he generally
endeavours to offer some excuse to those he respects. But little
further conversation passed till the boat reached the beach. O'Harrall
then gave some orders to the men in her, who, as soon as he and his
companions had landed, pulled away. The black and the two seamen then,
shouldering the chests, followed O'Harrall and Owen, the former
conducting them directly inland, passing some groves of cocoa-nut and
other trees, and avoiding any of the huts which were scattered about
here and there. After they had walked nearly a quarter of a mile, a
largish building, which might have been a barn or store, met their gaze,
a light gleaming from one end of it.

"Open the door, Mammy; here are your guests," said O'Harrall, and
immediately an old black woman appeared, with a lamp in her hand, which
she held up to enable her to scrutinise her visitors.

"All right, massa cappen," she said. "Glad to see the gen'lemen. I'se
take good care ob dem, neber fear."

"Go in, Captain Massey," said the pirate. "Mammy will be your hostess
while you remain with us."

Owen and the rest entered the hut. He saw that the room in which they
found themselves occupied only a part of the ground-floor of the
building, being divided off from the larger portion by a wooden
partition or bulkhead. On looking round he saw a ladder, which led
through a trap-door to the floor above.

"Your lodging is to be up there," said O'Harrall, pointing to it. "It
may remind you of a place in which you once gave me shelter. I have not
forgotten that. I wish that I could afford you better accommodation;
however, it is sufficiently large and airy, and you will, I hope, find
it as comfortable as you desire. Mammy will supply you with food, which
your black fellow can cook, with her assistance. The only charge