ymen, we tell you at once, we would die rather
than do so!"

"Then you must remain prisoners, and be treated as such," answered their
visitor. "However, as this craft will prove a fine cruiser, we are
going to fit her out for sea, and if you don't choose to go in her, you
will have to come on shore."

The pirate continued talking much in this way for some time, but without
producing any effect upon his hearers. At last he got angry, and,
slamming the door after him, went on deck. He soon returned, however,
with a dozen men, whom he ordered to take charge of the four prisoners
and to convey them on shore. They were accordingly marched up on deck,
where for the first time Jack was enabled to examine the place into
which the ship had been carried. It was a large lagoon, the entrance
from the sea being so narrow that he could with difficulty make it out.
Cocoanut and palm-trees thickly lined the shore, between which a few
huts were seen, but no rising ground was visible, and Deane conjectured
that they were on one of the quays which are to be found in the
neighbourhood of Saint Domingo, and which had been the resort for many
ages of pirates. The boat in which they were placed proceeded up the
lagoon for some distance, when they were landed on one side of it, and
surrounded by their guards and marched up away from the water. In a
short time some huts of considerably larger dimensions than those they
had already seen were reached, and one of them was pointed out as their
future prison. It was close to the other houses, and was one of the
largest in the village. Being ordered to go in, the door was closed
behind them. It had, however, the advantage of a window, which, though
strongly grated, gave them light and air, and enabled them to look out.
It was, in other respects, a very undesirable residence, the furniture
consisting of merely a couple of rough stools and a bench, with a
rickety table.

"I am afraid, sir, we've fallen out of the frying-pan into the fire,"
observed Burridge, as he surveyed the apartment. "On board we had our
beds to sleep on, and decent furniture, but here we have nothing to
boast of, of that sort, while I'm afraid it will be more than ever
difficult for us to get away."

It seemed but too likely that they were to be starved into compliance
with the pirates' wishes, for hour after hour passed away and no
provisions were brought them. At length Burridge, who had been
examining the place