le and make for the shore. Tom and Reuben regretted much that
they could not take part in the enterprise; but the governor
assured them that, even were it desirable that four should
undertake the mission, they could not be spared, since their
presence would be greatly needed in the castle should the natives,
before the arrival of the ship, make an attack upon it.

That night Ned and Gerald, according to the arrangement, stole out
from the castle. Their skins had been darkened from head to foot.
Round their waists they wore short petticoats, reaching to their
knees, of native stuff. They had sandals on their feet; for, as Ned
said, if they were seen close by the natives they were sure to be
detected in any case, and sandals would not show at a short
distance, while they would enable them to run at full speed, which
they certainly could not do barefooted. They took with them a bag
of provisions, and each carried a sword. Reuben had pressed upon
them to take pistols also; but Ned said that, if cut off and
detected, pistols would be of no use, as nothing but running would
carry them through; while should a pistol be fired inadvertently,
it would call such a number of assailants upon them that their
escape would be impossible. A thrust with a sword did its work
silently, and just as well as a pistol bullet.

The natives apparently had no fear of any attempt at a sally from
the castle, for there was nothing like a watch set round it;
although near the entrance a few men were stationed, to give
warning should the garrison sally out to make a sudden attack upon
the invaders. The natives were, for the most part, scattered about
in small parties, and once or twice the lads nearly fell in with
these; but by dint of keeping their ears and eyes open they steered
through the dangers, and arrived safely upon the coast, at a point
two miles to the west of the landing place.

Here the cliff had nearly sloped away, the height being only some
twenty or thirty feet above the water, and being practicable in
many cases for descent; while behind lay a large wood in which
concealment was easy, except in the case of an organized search, of
which they had no fear, whatever.

The next morning they made along the shore as far as the point
where the native war canoes had been pulled up, in hopes of finding
some canoe small enough for Ned to use for rowing off to the ship.
But none of them rowed less than twelve or fourteen paddles, and so
cum