es suggested
that they should be put on a raft, towed to leeward of the island, and,
when out of sight of it, be cast adrift to float about until they should
be picked up or get blown on one of the numerous islands that lay to the
southward of the rendezvous. Manton and Scraggs advocated this plan, but
the better-disposed among the men protested against such needless
cruelty, and suggested that it would be better to put them into the
long-boat of the ship, bandage their eyes, then tow them out of sight of
land, and cast them loose to steer where they pleased.

This plan was adopted and carried into execution. Then the pirates
returned, and at their leisure unloaded and secured the cargo of their
prize. It was richer than they had anticipated, being a miscellaneous
cargo of valuable commodities for the trading stores of some of the
South Sea merchants and settlers.

The joy felt by the pirates on making this discovery was all the benefit
that was ever derived from these ill-gotten gains by any one of those
who had a hand in that dastardly deed. Long before they had an
opportunity of removing the goods thus acquired, the career of the
Avenger had terminated. But we must not anticipate our story.

On a green knoll near the margin of this bay, and in full view of the
wreck, a rude tent or hut was constructed by the pirates out of part of
an old sail which had been washed ashore from the wreck, and some broken
spars. A small cask of biscuit and two or three blankets were placed in
it, and here the captives were left to do as they pleased until such
time as Manton chose to send for them. The only piece of advice that was
given to them by their surly jailer was that they should not on any
pretense whatsoever cross the island to the bay in which the schooner
lay at anchor.

"If ye do," said the man who was the last of the party to quit them,
"ye'll wish ye hadn't--that's all. Take my advice, and keep yer
kooriosity in yer breeches pockets."

With this caution they were left to their own devices and meditations.

It was a lovely, calm evening, at sunset, when our four unfortunate
friends were thus left alone in these strange circumstances. The effect
of their forlorn condition was very different on each. Poopy flung
herself down on the ground, inside the tent, and began to sob; Alice sat
down beside her, and wept silently; whilst Montague, forgetting his own
sorrows in his pity for the poor young creatures who had been thu