he cruise
forthwith and bear up for the rendezvous, in order to lay in a fresh
stock of necessaries before undertaking another cruise. But I soon
discovered that, so far as Dominique was concerned, the restocking of
the ship was only a pretext to enable him to return here at once for
quite another purpose, namely, to put you effectually out of the way by
drawing a knife across your throat, and to possess himself of the
senorita. Now, Dominique is a villain without a single redeeming trait
of character; there is no love lost between him and me; and therefore,
since I have taken something of a fancy to you, and have no desire to
see Senorita Lotta the victim of such a consummate scoundrel and
blackguard as Dominique, I determined to give you a word of warning, if
possible; and here I am. Now I don't know where you and the senorita
can hide yourselves, but hide you must, and that forthwith, for friend
Dominique may turn up at any moment; and if he finds you and the lady
here, no earthly power can save you. I think that perhaps if you were
to take to the woods for a time, it would be your best plan; and I would
help you, so far as lay in my power, by--"

"You are a good fellow, Fonseca," interrupted I, grasping his hand, "and
I will not forget what you have done to-night. I know of a place where,
I think, we can hide safely for a day or two, and I will take the
senorita and Mammy there with me. And, look here, why should you not
join us? You must surely be quite tired of leading such a life as this,
and--"

"Tired!" he broke in; "tired is not the word to express my loathing of
it! I never liked it; would never have had anything to do with it if I
could have helped it, but I was compelled by Ricardo to join, and I have
never since had a chance to escape."

"Well, you have one now if you care to join us," I said. "While you
have been talking my brain has been working, and I have already thought
of a scheme for getting away from here. Will you join us?"

"Most willingly, senor," answered Fonseca. "I will stand by you through
thick and thin; and should you succeed in enabling me to escape, my
eternal gratitude will be yours."

"Very well then," said I, "that is settled. Now if you have any
valuables among your personal belongings in your quarters ashore here,
that you particularly wish to take away with you, be off at once and get
them, and then rejoin me here. As for me, I must go and call Mammy at
once, and