there."

"He's been dreaming," growled the boatswain. "What d'yer mean, you
dog?"

"I arn't been asleep," cried Pan, angrily; "and I'm so hungry."

"Tell me: what do you mean?" cried Syd.

"I've been a-watching o' Mr Terry, sir. He went down on the rocks over
yonder, and I lay down and see him make signs to the French ship, and
two boats come out and rowed in close to where he was a-hiding down in
one o' them big cracks like I hid in and found the water."

"Yes; go on," whispered Syd, whose heart sank with apprehension.

"And he talked to 'em, and they talked to him, and then rowed back to
the French ship."

"What did they say?"

"I dunno; I was too far off to hear."

"Well, go on."

"I thought he was up to some game, and I lay there and watched him, and
I've been watching of him ever since, till to-night he crawled into the
stores, after hiding all yes' afternoon and to-night, and I see him come
creeping out again with a rope, and he put it over his shoulder. And
then he climbed up one o' those cracks, and I went arter him, and he got
right out there past the water-hole, and then crep' all along till he
got to the place where you hauled Mr Roylance and t'other sailor up
with a rope. And I crep' up close as I could, and lay there watching
him hours till three boats come round from the other side, and then Mr
Terry tied the end of the rope round a big block, and let the other end
down, and I see a French sailor come up, and then another, and another,
and they let down more rope, and they're all climbed up, and they're
coming right up yonder over the top by the flag-post."

"How do you know?"

"'Cos I come that way first, and they was all coming close up arter me
all the time, and I had to come on my hands and knees."

"Why didn't you come the other way, and give the alarm in front?"

"'Cos they've got lots o' fellows there with swords and pistols. I
heard 'em cock."

"Yah! it's all a fancy," growled Strake; "he's scared, and dreamed it."

"I didn't," cried the boy.

"Couldn't climb up there," growled Strake.

"Yes, they could, Strake," cried Syd, excitedly. "Once they were on the
rock they could climb up, and--yes, they'd come over by the flagstaff."

"I tell yer the young swab dreamt it."

"Ahoy! help!"

_Bang! bang! Bang! bang_!--Pistol-shots from high up by the flagstaff;
and as the men seized their cutlasses and pistols, and, with Syd and
Roylance at their head, advanced up the gap t