."

"A very pretty scheme indeed!" I exclaimed. "But, Gurney, you must be
mistaken as to their intention to do away with me. Why, the idea is
monstrous; it means sheer, deliberate, cold-blooded murder!"

"Yes, it does," admitted Gurney; "and of course I may be mistaken, for I
do not enjoy Wilde's full confidence by any means--we are far too
antagonistic in every way for that. But let me urge you not to trust
too much to the possibility that I may be mistaken, Mr Troubridge, for
I do not believe that I am; and if it should happen to be you, and not
I, who are mistaken, it would be bad for you, would it not?"

"It would," I agreed. "But forewarned is forearmed, Gurney; and I would
take precious good care not to be caught napping. Was it to tell me
this that you proposed this walk to-night?"

"Yes," answered Gurney; "to tell you that; and also to say that if what
you have heard to-night should determine you to attempt an escape from
the island, you may rely upon Grace and me to help you to the utmost
extent of our power. Also, I want you to include us both in your plan.
I think it will be quite worth your while to take us with you, Mr
Troubridge; for you know something of my qualifications as a seaman, and
I am sure I could be of service in carrying out your plans; while, as
for Grace, well, if she can do nothing else, she can at least cook our
grub for us. Now, what do you say?"

"I say that I will gladly include both of you in my plans, and there is
my hand upon it," answered I, offering him my right hand in token of
good faith. We discussed the matter for some time longer; and at length
I said: "Now please leave me to think this matter out. What you have
told me has taken me a good deal by surprise, and as yet I feel scarcely
able to grasp the full significance of it. But I have no doubt that I
shall get the bearings of it within the next hour or so. Meanwhile, I
believe you are right in suggesting that it would be unwise to leave
anything to chance; I will therefore endeavour to think out some
practical scheme, and when I have done so we will have another chat.
And now, good night! Good night, Miss Hartley!"

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

THE CRITICAL MOMENT APPROACHES.

I watched the tall, good-looking, well-spoken sailor, and the slim,
willowy figure of his sweetheart gradually vanish amid the deep shadows
of the bushes that bordered the path leading downward from the Head; and
then, oblivious of the p