ed that we should all meet him at the spot
where I found him at midnight at that time."

This information raised Jack's spirits, which had become very low in
consequence of his illness. The effect, however, was only temporary,
for the following day he became worse, and his companions began to fear
that he would be taken from them. Their daily visitor, as it happened,
remained in the hut longer than usual, and had thus an opportunity of
observing how ill Deane looked. The midshipmen and Burridge also told
him that they were afraid their officer would die if he had not some
help.

"True enough, master," said the man. "I will tell our captain, and
perhaps he will do something for him. We have no objection to killing
men in fair fight; but it is not our way to put them out of the world by
clapping them into prisons, as they do in some countries."

Saying this the man took his departure, promising to inform his captain
of Deane's state of health.

"Whatever happens to me," said Deane to his companions, "you must
endeavour to make your escape, according to the present arrangement. If
you can find your way to Jamaica, you will be able to tell the
authorities whereabouts this island is situated, and they will then
probably send a man-of-war to bargain with the pirates for my release,
or if they will not do that, to get me off by force."

About an hour after their first visitor had left them, footsteps were
heard approaching the door. It opened, and Jack, as he lifted his head
from the bed of straw on which he lay in one corner, saw standing before
him his old acquaintance--Pearson!

"They tell me you have fallen sick," he said, "and want a doctor. Now
I'm none myself, and there's no one I can send here to cure you; but, as
I don't want you to suppose that we are entire barbarians, if you wish
it, I will have you taken to my house, and there are some there who,
maybe, will look after you and help cure you better than any doctor we
can find in these parts."

Under other circumstances, Deane would certainly have declined the
offer, which would have made his escape impossible; but from the remarks
made by the pirate captain, he could not help hoping that the persons he
spoke of might prove to be Dame Pearson and Elizabeth. He felt, too,
that even should he wish to attempt escaping, from his weakness he would
be a great burden to his companions, while he would run the risk of
losing his own life. He therefore repli