board Captain Vipon called Jacques
into the cabin and told him that it would be necessary to leave two
men behind, explaining the duties they would have to perform.

"Now Jacques," he said when he had finished, "I thought that perhaps
you would be more likely than any other man on board the three ships
to volunteer for this work."

"I volunteer!" Jacques said in astonishment. "What should make you
think of such a thing, captain?"

"For this reason, Jacques: I have settled to leave the English lad
here as one of the signallers. Of course he will gladly undertake the
job, as it will enable him to join his friends when they land; and as
you like him and he likes you, he might be able to make things easy
for you. In the second place we have determined that the name of
whoever stops shall be borne on the ship books of all three vessels to
the end of their cruise, so that there would be a good bit of money
coming even if only one out of the three ships gets back, and enough
to set you up for life if all three get back safely. Of course you may
have a spell of imprisonment; but it is likely that one at least of
the ships may be caught going out to-night, and if it happened to be
ours you would get the prison without the prize-money."

"That is so," Jacques agreed. "If you give me half an hour to think it
over I will give you an answer. It's come upon me sudden-like. I will
talk it over with the boy. I suppose I can tell him, captain?"

On regaining the deck Jacques looked about for Ralph.

"Come and sit along with me out on the bowsprit, lad, I want to have a
private talk with you."

Somewhat surprised Ralph followed his friend out on to the bowsprit.

"Now, boy," he said, "I have got a bit of news to tell you that will
be pleasant to you. That's the first thing; and the next is, I want
your advice. You are a sensible young chap, you are, although you are
but a lad, and I should like to know what you think about it."

"Well, what's the good news, Jacques?"

"The good news is this; you are likely, before this time to-morrow, to
be with your friends." Ralph gave such a start of delight that he
nearly slipped off the bowsprit.

"How is that Jacques? It seems too good to be true."

"This is the way of it," Jacques said. "The three vessels are all
going to cut and run to-night. That schooner of yours is round the
other side of the island, and we want to be sure she is stopping
there, then there will only be the friga