llow that he is--managed somehow to scrape together for us
not only a fair supply of food, but also arms, a few tools, and nails
enough to knock that bit of a canoe together. He gave us the exact
position of your island, and told us that _we_ might possibly get a
sight of the top of yonder mountain on a clear day--which, as a matter
of fact we did, once or twice--so that I knew exactly how to steer in
order to make a good land-fall. And so you are all in good health, eh?
Well, I am delighted to hear that. And where are the rest of your
party? It will be a pleasant sight for my old eyes when they rest upon
the ladies and those dear children once more--bless their sweet innocent
little hearts!"

"You shall see them in good time--in the course of two or three hours--
as soon as we have landed our cargo and can work back to the western end
of the island, where our camp is at present located," answered Gaunt,
with a smile. "But, tell me," he continued, "before our conversation
drifts away from the subject, where and how is Miss Stanhope?"

"She is--or was, when I saw her last--on board the _Flying Cloud_,"
answered the skipper. "You must understand that I was landed from the
ship on the day following that on which they put you ashore here; so I
know nothing whatever about what may have happened to her since then.
But they let me wish her good-bye before I was landed, and I had a few
minutes' conversation with her; and, from what passed then and in a chat
I previously had with Ned, I am in hope that she is as safe as a girl
can be in the hands of such a set of ruffians. It seems that they are
keeping Ned to navigate the ship for them; and they are keeping Miss
Stanhope as a hostage for his good faith, and to insure his dealing
honestly with them. And from what I know of Williams I am not
altogether without hopes that so long as Ned faithfully obeys their
orders the young lady will be perfectly safe. But, at best, her
situation is a very terrible one, and I would give my right hand this
moment to see her safe once more among us. And now, tell me, what have
you been doing all the time, and what is the meaning of this raft and
her cargo?"

Gaunt, in reply, gave a pretty fully detailed account of all that they
had done, and of their future plans; winding up by expressing the
exceeding satisfaction he felt that the little party would now be
benefited by the aid and advice of two such valuable auxiliaries as the
skippe