Spaniards," said Pompey. "Dey keep de eye too wide open to let us go
just now."

Days and weeks and months went by, and nothing occurred to vary the
monotony of their existence. The Spaniards kept too strict a watch to
enable them to make any excursions out of the house, and Mammy herself
seemed as cautious as she had been on their first arrival. Had it not
been for the interest Owen felt in teaching his two countrymen to read,
his own spirits would have broken down. Pompey also begged to go to
school and join their class, but he had great trouble in learning his
letters, although after he knew them he got on as rapidly as either of
his companions.

Thus several months more passed by. Twice the _Eagle_ came in, and
again sailed without their receiving a visit from O'Harrall. Owen was
becoming more and more sick at heart. It may seem strange that he and
his three companions should have been kept in such thraldom by an old
woman and two Spaniards, but could these ever-watchful guardians have
been overpowered, and even a canoe secured, it would have been madness
to have put to sea without provisions and water, with the chance of
being pursued or picked up by the pirate ship. He waited, therefore,
for an opportunity, which, however, he at times thought might never
arrive.

Pompey had at length one day gone out with Mammy, when on his return he
brought the news that the _Eagle_ had been lost, and that the captain,
with a portion only of the men, had returned in a small vessel they had
captured. Owen naturally feared that O'Harrall, after his misfortune,
would be in a worse temper than before, and was thankful that he did not
make his appearance. Pompey accounted for it by informing them that he
and all hands were on board the _Ouzel Galley_, busily employed in
fitting her out.

It was now again the hurricane season, and some time would probably
elapse before the pirates would venture to put to sea. For the same
reason Owen considered that it would not be prudent to try and make
their escape. Their chance, however, of getting off undiscovered was
less than it had been before, for so great was the demand for hands to
man the _Ouzel Galley_ that the two Spaniards were called away from
their post, and no others were sent to take their places. One evening,
about this time, Pompey made his appearance in a great state of
agitation.

"What do you tink, Cappen Massey?" he exclaimed. "I talk berry often to
Mammy,