st assured of that."

Then a tot of rum was served out to each man, and the boat's head put
W. by S. for Pikirami Lagoon, while Tessa and Maoni set to work under
Atkins's directions to sew together some odd pieces of calico and navy
blue print, which Latour the steward had fortunately thrust into the
sack containing the firearms. When it was completed it made a fairly
sized squaresail, which could always be used during light winds.

The captain's boat had disappeared from view, when Jessop the second
steward beckoned to Harvey to come to him.

"Ask the young lady to go for'ard, mister, will you?" he said, turning
his haggard eyes upon the trader's face. "I feel as 'ow I'm goin', an' I
said I would make a clean breast of it. But I don't want 'er to 'ear; do
ye twig, mister, though I'll tell you and Mr. Hatkins?"

Harvey nodded, and whispered to Tessa to go for'ard. "The poor little
beggar is dying, Tessa, and has something to tell me."

Tessa and Maoni went for'ard and sat down under the shade of the
newly-made mainsail, which was hoisted upon an oar with a bamboo yard.
There they were quite out of hearing of the vile confession of Jessop's
complicity with Chard and the captain made by the wretched man, who
was now sinking fast, and knew that his hours were numbered, for, as
Morrison had surmised, one of his lungs was fatally injured. And when he
had finished the low-spoken tale of his villainy even the rough-natured
Atkins was filled with pity when he saw how the poor wretch was
suffering, both physically and mentally.

"You've done right, Jessop, in telling us this; it'll be all the better
for you when you have to stand before the Almighty, won't it, Mr. Carr?"

"Yes, indeed, Jessop," said Harvey kindly; "and I wish we could do
something to alleviate your pain, poor fellow!"

"Never mind, sir. You're a gent if ever there was one, and you 'as taken
away a lot o' the pain I've 'ad in me 'eart by forgivin' me. And perhaps
the young lady will just let me tell 'er I'm sorry, and give me 'er 'and
before I go."

Atkins beckoned to Tessa, who came quickly aft and knelt beside the
dying man, who looked into her soft, sympathetic face longingly yet
fearfully.

"I'm a bad lot, miss, as Mr. Carr will tell you when I'm dead. It was
me that give you and Monny the drugged coffee, and I want you to forgive
me, an' give me your 'and."

Tessa looked wonderingly at Harvey, who bent towards her and whispered a
few words. In a