I would inquire who you are?" said Owen.

"Well, sir, I am an unfortunate fellow, who wishes that he was anywhere
but where he is. I see that you are not one of the _Eagle's_ crew, and
so I don't mind telling you. I joined her to save my life, and now that
I am ill I am allowed to die like a dog by myself, with no one to look
after me. I was left on shore sick, and since I grew worse I have been
unable to get any food, and I am too weak to walk."

Owen promised to try and induce Mammy to supply the poor fellow with
nourishment. He would at once have hurried back, but he was anxious,
having got thus far, to obtain a view of the harbour. Accordingly,
telling the man he would send him relief as soon as possible, he, with
Dan and Tim, left the hut, and made their way on, keeping themselves
concealed as much as possible among the trees and bushes till they came
in full view of the harbour.

It was a wide lagoon, which narrowed towards the southern end, where a
perpendicular cliff of some extent rose directly out of the water, its
summit covered with trees. Both Owen and Dan were of opinion that this
formed one end of the channel leading to the sea. No boats or canoes
could be discovered on the beach. Further along it to the northward
were seen a number of huts and buildings of larger size, probably
storehouses. People were moving about among them, but it was impossible
at the distance they were to know if they were blacks or whites. In the
centre of the harbour lay the _Ouzel Galley_, much in the condition in
which she had been when captured, and there were several smaller vessels
at anchor, completely dismantled.

So far the inspection of the harbour had been satisfactory; there was
nothing that Owen could see to prevent the possibility of their
escaping. The party hastened back to the house. Mammy scolded them for
being so long absent. "If cappen here, you no do it," she observed; by
which remark they guessed that, though she held O'Harrall in awe, she
had herself no ill-feeling towards them. On Owen's telling her of the
sick man, she consented to let Pompey take him some food, and undertook
to visit him herself, provided they would promise not to leave the house
during her absence. This they readily agreed to do.

Some days afterwards, when Owen again managed to get as far as the hut,
he found the man greatly recovered. John Hempson (as he said was his
name) professed himself very grateful, and declare