e gang, but would not be certain. I was
retiring when Moon caught sight of me and shouted to his companions to
give chase. Fortunately most of them were too drunk to make much
headway, but seeing that some of them were coming, I judged it prudent
to run on and warn you, for I suspect that they are ready for any kind
of atrocity."

While my messmate was giving this account we were hurrying on--indeed
there was no time to lose under any circumstances, for almost directly
after the sun had set it would become dark, and we might have much
difficulty in finding our way. I frequently looked back with some
anxiety, and fancied that I saw several men in the distance, but we
still hoped to reach the tents before they could come up with us.
Medley and I were resolved, should they do so, to keep them at bay with
our muskets till Mary had effected her escape. She kept up her spirits,
not being as much alarmed as I thought she would have been. I was
greatly relieved when at length we saw the white tops of the tents. As
we got nearer I shouted, and soon Captain Bland appeared, followed by
Pepper and Salt.

"You have been too long away, young people, and I was on the point of
setting out to look for you; however, as I have no doubt that you have
plenty of good excuses to offer, you are forgiven," he said, in his
kind, cheery way. When Medley told him of the sort of characters we had
seen he expressed his satisfaction that we had avoided them. "They
probably belong to the schooner you saw standing in for the island the
other day, Jack; and if so, the chances are that she is not the honest
fisherman we supposed," he remarked. "We must keep a watch on the
fellows in case they should come this way."

Though he said this he did not appear to be much troubled about the
matter, and we were soon all seated at Mrs Bland's tea-table in her
tent. I, however, had told Pepper and Salt, whom I could trust, to be
on the look-out, so that we might not be taken by surprise. We spent
the evening happily as usual, Mary singing to her guitar, while the kind
captain told some of his best stories, at which he always laughed most
heartily himself. I made an excuse two or three times to go out, to be
sure that the Kroomen were on the alert, and I also visited the seamen's
tent, and told them to be ready to turn out if necessary.

"All right, Jack," said the captain, guessing what I had been about.
"You've got the wise prudence of a careful of