t a thought."

"No, you wouldn't, my boy. You couldn't do it in cold blood, even
although they are bad men."

"I don't know that," said Corrie, dubiously. "I would do it without more
feeling than I would have in killing a cat."

"Did you ever kill a cat?" asked Montague.

"Never," answered Corrie.

"Then how can you tell what your feelings would be if you were to
attempt to do it. I remember once, when I was a boy, going out to hunt
cats."

"O Captain Montague! surely _you_ never hunted cats," exclaimed Alice,
who came out of the tent with a very pale face, and uncommonly red eyes.

"Yes, indeed, I did _once_; but I never did it again. I caught one, a
kitten, and set off with a number of boys to kill it; but as we went
along it began to play with my necktie, and to _purr_. Our hearts were
softened, so we let it go. Ah, Corrie, my boy, never go hunting cats!"
said Montague, earnestly.

"Did I say I was going to?" replied Corrie indignantly.

Montague laughed, and so did Alice, at the fierce look the boy put on.

"Come," said the former, "I'm sure that you would not kill a pirate in
cold blood any more than you would kill a kitten--would you?"

"I'm not sure o' that," said Corrie, half laughing, but still looking
fierce. "In the first place, my blood is never cold when I've to do with
pirates; and, in the second place, pirates are not innocent creatures
covered with soft hair, and--they don't purr!"

This last remark set Alice into a fit of laughter, and drew a faint
"hee! hee!" from Poopy, who had been listening to the conversation
behind the canvas of the tent.

Montague took advantage of this improved state of things. "Now, Alice,"
said he cheerfully, "do you and Poopy set about spreading our blanket
tablecloth, and getting supper laid out. It is but a poor one,--hard
biscuit and water,--but there is plenty of it, and, after all, that is
the main thing. Meanwhile, Corrie and I will saunter along shore and
talk over our plans. Cheer up, my little girl; we will manage to give
these pirates the slip somehow or other, you may depend upon it."

"Corrie," said Montague, when they were alone. "I have spoken cheeringly
to Alice, because she is a little girl and needs comfort, but you and I
know that our case is a desperate one, and it will require all our
united wisdom and cleverness to effect oar escape from these rascally
pirates."

The commander of the Talisman paused, and smiled in spite of himself at
th