lieve you of your work?" continued she.

Sanders was in reality doing nothing in the way of physical labor,
since the steering oar was in the hands of one of the crew, but he was
absorbed in "watching things," as the expression goes.

"I am sure there is no way in which you can relieve me," said Fred,
unbending somewhat from his reserve.

"We are in such deep water, and the wind is so fair, that there can be
no danger, I suppose. But tell me, what sort of a boat is that yonder
which is pursuing nearly the same course with us?"

"That--I presume," was the hesitating response, as the young man
glanced in that direction, "is one of the double canoes or proas which
are often seen among these islands."

"And who are the crew?"

"Islanders, like my own."

"Are we going to meet them?"

"I hardly know what to answer to that," said Fred, looking inquiringly
toward the large proa again, as if he had not seen it before.

"Well, Captain Sanders, they must be pirates," said Inez, stepping
close to him, and speaking in a low, tremulous voice; "but whether
they are or not, my faith in God and in you cannot be changed. I know
you will do all you can for us----"

"There! there!" protested the young captain, with an expression of
pain on his face, "say no more. Please go away, Inez, and leave me
alone."

"Of course I will leave you, if you do not wish me here, but gratitude
would not let me keep silent. I know, from what you said last night,
that you have a good heart, and henceforth conscience is to be your
master and guide."

And without looking to see the effect of her words, Inez left the
captain to his own thoughts.

Abram Storms, with folded arms, was intently watching him, and he
carefully studied his countenance. He was still doing so, when Inez
turned her back upon Sanders. Mr. Storms noted the strange expression
on the handsome countenance, and just then Sanders turned and looked
straight at the man before the latter could withdraw his gaze. As
their eyes met, he signaled to Storms to approach, and the latter,
with no little wonderment and some misgiving, did so.

"Mr. Storms," said he, "that double canoe off yonder has twenty-three
pirates on board."

"I suspected as much," coolly replied the other.

"And a set of worse villains cannot be found in the South Seas."

"I am sure you are quite right."

"These two men that I have on board belong to the same crew."

"Indeed! I hadn't thought of that."

"I