ey, then he come back again."

"We must get away to-night, do you understand?" Phil replied, looking
searchingly at him. "Are you willing to come?"

"Vraiment, I will accompany you, monsieur," answered Pierre
hesitatingly. "Mais--ah, what will ze Russian with ze face severe do to
us? Surely he will make ze bang."

"Oh, you little coward!" murmured Phil bitterly, "you will spoil
everything yet. I tell you, Pierre," he added, clutching him by both
shoulders, "if you wish to stay, do so; but you will probably be shot as
a spy. That will be your bad luck in having been washed ashore with us.
If you attempt the escape with us, beware how you behave, for should
you make a sound to betray us, I will kill you. Now, stay here, and
prepare to accompany us. We shall be back in half an hour. Come, Tony,
it is already dark, and we must capture that fellow."

"Then in a half of the hour you make ze return," said the little
Frenchman, looking as though he had smothered his fears. "Bien, I shall
be prepared.

"Aha, my good fellows!" he muttered in his own language a few moments
later, with quivering lips. "You have gone up the chimney, and will be
back in half an hour. Why should I die for your foolishness? It would
be suicide."

Creeping to the chimney, the crafty little coward listened while Phil
and Tony slid into the other cell. Then he stepped to the door, and
prepared to give the alarm, hoping thereby to escape the fate which
would certainly befall the others if discovered. But, overcome by
terror of the consequences, he remained irresolute for more than ten
minutes ere he dared to shout, for he had a wholesome terror of the
fair-haired young Englishman who had brought him back to consciousness
when lashed to the wreckage, and moreover there was an ominous look in
Tony's eyes as that burly young giant looked at him for the last time
before entering the chimney.

Meanwhile Phil and Tony had entered the other cell.

"Now for it," said Phil. "McNeil, you are too lame to help us, so had
better lie down on your blankets. Tony, tear up the blanket and get the
gag ready. You quite understand?" he went on, when all was finished.
"You crouch behind me, and slam the door as soon as the fellow comes in.
Then we jump on him. It is dark enough now, so we'll knock."

Taking the precaution to drag Stackanoff's body into the corner behind
the door, Phil knocked loudly, and, hearing footsteps outside, cried out
in a