mp of bamboo, where he
was so well concealed from observation that Frobisher could just
distinguish the outline of his stooping body. Indeed, had he not kept
his eyes on the man the whole time, it would have been impossible to
detect his hiding-place, so well did the colour of his clothing blend
with the vegetation which formed his background.

The Englishman's heart began to beat with excitement and hope, for a
thousand possibilities at once presented themselves to him. It was
morally certain that the hiding man could have no connection with the
pirates, or he would have come forward boldly and demanded admittance;
and if not a friend of, or connected with the outlaws, he must
necessarily be opposed to them. Ah! if it were only possible to attract
the man's attention without also attracting that of the pirates, escape
should be a simple matter, thought Frobisher. He was already
practically as good as outside the walls, and all that was necessary was
that something should be laid down on the top of the glass over which he
could walk without cutting his feet, and the thing was done; he could be
miles beyond the possibility of pursuit before morning broke, if only
the preliminaries could be put in hand immediately.

It did not take him long to decide that he would make the attempt to
attract the man's attention. If the latter were a friend, and the
attempt were crowned with success, all would be well, and he would be
free within an hour; while if the man should after all prove to be an
enemy--well, he might as well be discovered and taken back to prison
now, as wait all night in the cold. One thing was quite certain--
without outside assistance escape was impossible; so he decided to put
his fortune to the test and risk his freedom, if not his life, upon the
turn of the die.

With this idea, he drew his handkerchief from his pocket and was about
to step forward and wave it, when he saw a movement among the clump of
bamboo, and the next instant the Chinaman rose to his feet and ran like
a deer toward the very part of the fort in which Frobisher's cell was
situated. He ran noiselessly, on his toes, and bent almost double in
the effort to make himself as small as possible. And he did not slacken
speed until he had reached the walls of the fort, where he again
crouched down in the shadow, almost directly under the window of
Frobisher's cell, about twenty yards away from the spot where the
Englishman himself was con