held what counted most to me of this world's good. Kilgorman held the
spirit of my dead mother, waiting to be relieved of its trouble. How
could I desert the one or the other and call myself a brave man?

What I could not decide, fate decided for me. The cave below me was
guarded by the pirate's men, who clattered their muskets on the stones
and kept a keen look-out on all sides for any chance intruder. To quit
my present perch would be certain death. So I lay and watched the boat
as she plied backwards and forwards with the guns, and wondered how soon
the task of loading would be done.

It went on all the day, and every hour I felt myself grow fainter and
more sick with hunger. For nearly two days, except last night's crust,
I had tasted nothing; and before that, sea-weed had been the chief
article of my diet. The scene presently seemed to swim before me, and
at last, what with the heat and famine, I fairly swooned away.

When I came to, two curious faces were bent over me, and my bed was no
longer the rocky cliff side, but the hard floor of a boat as it danced
over the waves.

"He looks a likely lad," said one voice.

"He's safer with us than ashore," said another. "I warrant he was put
there to spy on us."

"Come, lad," said the first speaker, shaking me not altogether roughly;
"we have you safe this time."

"'Deed, sir," said I, "as long as you give me some food you may do what
you like with me."

And with this I rolled over again and all grew dim. When I opened my
eyes next it was dark, and by the motion under me I guessed I was on the
ship. A lantern swung dimly overhead, and a loud snoring below me
showed me I was not alone in my bunk. What was of more interest just
then, a piece of a loaf and some salt meat stood within reach of where I
lay, and had evidently been put there for my use. You may guess if I
let them stand long.

This refreshment, with the sleep I had had, and a few drops of rum in
the tail of a bottle that stuck from my messmate's pocket, made a new
man of me. And I sank back to my rest with a sense of comfort I have
rarely known the like of since.

In the morning a rough hand roused me.

"Come, you have had enough coddling, my hearty. The captain wants you.
And, if you'll take my advice, you'll say your prayers before you go on
deck, as he'll likely drop you overboard."

This failed to frighten me, as it was meant to do; and I gathered myself
together and climbed the h