t than a few minutes' privacy and freedom from
espionage," I answered. "Listen, Miss Onslow," I continued, "I have
been engaged for the last two hours in quietly observing the manoeuvres
of O'Gorman, and I have come to the conclusion that he intends to close
with and speak the barque that has been in sight all the afternoon.
Now, such a proceeding may, or may not, be to our advantage. If I can
succeed in effecting communication with her skipper, it may be possible
for us to accomplish one of three things: First, we may, with the
assistance of the barque's crew, be enabled to effect our escape from
these people altogether. Or, if that should prove impracticable, we may
possibly be enabled to secure _your_ transfer to the barque. Or, _if_
that attempt also should fail, we surely ought to be able, with the help
of the barque's people, to communicate with the authorities ashore, and
claim from them rescue from our present precarious and exceedingly
unpleasant situation."

"Y-e-es," my companion assented meditatively. Then, after a slight
pause, she asked:

"Have you ever thought of what the end of this adventure is likely to
be, so far as we two are concerned, supposing that we should fail to
effect our escape from O'Gorman and his companions?"

"Certainly, the matter is never absent from my thoughts," I answered.
"We are bound--upon what I cannot help thinking a fool's errand--to some
island in the Pacific, upon which O'Gorman and his party expect to find
a certain treasure. This treasure they either will or will _not_ find;
but in either case I anticipate that, so far as _we_ are concerned, the
adventure will end in our being landed somewhere at a sufficient
distance from a town to permit of O'Gorman getting clear away with the
brig before we should have time to give the alarm and secure his
capture."

"That, of course, is assuming that you carry out these men's wishes,
without giving them any trouble," commented Miss Onslow. "But," she
continued, "what, do you imagine, is likely to be the result--the effect
upon us both--if you cause them trouble and anxiety by endeavouring to
escape? They have made it perfectly evident to you that they _cannot_
dispense with your services. Do you really think it worth our while to
irritate and provoke them by attempting to escape? True, they are
exceedingly unpleasant people to be brought into such close and constant
contact with, but there seems to be no great harm in the