u the whole history, but it is too long to tell now."

It was apparent, from the manner of the boy, that he wished to conceal
some facts of his previous life, and neither the captain nor mate
pressed him--for, in truth, it was of no special interest to them,
their all-absorbing subject of mental anxiety being as to how they
were to get away from the hated place.

"Where are you directly from?" asked Mr. Storms.

"From an island, the name of which I have never heard in English,
though its native name is something like Wauparmur."

"Inhabited, of course?"

"Yes. There are four or five hundred natives and their families. The
island is a dozen miles in extent, is very fertile, and has several
native towns. At one place is a good harbor, and nearly always some
foreign vessel is there. Sometimes I have seen three or more, and when
I left, four days ago, a trading-ship from Boston had arrived."

"Oh!" exclaimed Abe Storms. "So near and yet so far!"

"I think it will probably stay a week longer, for they are doing a
good trade with the islanders."

"You have awakened a hope that is really painful," said Captain
Bergen, while the pale face of Mr. Storms showed he was affected fully
as profoundly.

"I don't know why it need be painful," said the young man, in his
off-hand manner, which was so captivating; "for we were going on a
little cruise, when we caught sight of your signal flying, and we put
in to find out what the trouble was."

"And are you willing to take us off?" asked Storms, who, while he felt
the question was unnecessary, was still trembling with anxiety lest
something should prevent their going.

"Will we take you off?" asked Fred, with a ringing laugh. "That's a
pretty question to ask us, when we came for the express purpose of
doing so. Of course, we'll take you straight away to the island we
came from, and, of course, we'll put you in the way of getting back to
Boston as soon as possible, and we only regret that we hadn't the
chance to get here three years sooner, so as to save you this dreary
waste of time."

Tears came to the eyes of both the men, and, as Captain Bergen took
the hand of the youth, he said:

"We will thank you forever, and will pay you well."

It was an unfortunate speech, and the cooler-headed mate would never
have uttered it.

It might result in no harm; but why let the reckless youth know that
they possessed the ability to pay him well? It would be time enough to
present h