tention of Jacopo as soon as it was light enough for
him to see it, and probably in his fury at being outwitted the man would
rush frantically down, and try to get on board; but in that case Stephen
should have to shoot him in cold blood, which he felt he could not bring
himself to do.

He decided finally upon going on shore, where he could meet the man on
equal terms. He accordingly hoisted the sail, and then landed with a
couple of loaded muskets, taking his place behind a tree a short distance
up the path, and waiting until morning. The various journeys had taken him
some time, and it was now, he judged, about three o'clock. As soon as it
was light his watch began in earnest. Contrary to his expectations, it was
fully an hour before he heard any sign of Jacopo coming. He accounted for
the delay on the supposition that the Peruvian would think perhaps that
although he had outwitted him and got on board, he must be altogether
unprovided with stores, and unable, therefore, to put to sea. He would
suppose then that he had returned to shore, especially as there were no
signs of him on board the craft.

At last he saw him coming down the path with a stealthy, crouching step,
with one musket slung behind him, and the other in his hand ready for
instant action. He was a dreadful sight. His face was bound up with a
sleeve cut from his shirt. His forehead was encrusted and his hair matted
with dried blood, with which also his linen jacket and trousers were
thickly stained. Stephen had chosen a tree round whose foot was a thick
growth of bush, and he now proceeded to put into execution the plan that
he had decided upon. Stooping behind the trunk of the tree, he thrust up
from among the bushes his cap on the top of a ramrod, taking care that the
upper part only just showed above the leaves. Almost instantly Jacopo
levelled his rifle and fired. Stephen gave a loud cry and dropped the cap.
The Peruvian, with a yell of exultation, threw away the gun, drew his
knife, and bounded forward. As he came up, Stephen sprang out, and brought
the butt end of his gun down with all his strength on the Peruvian's head,
striking him senseless to the ground. Stephen picked up the murderer's
knife and placed it in his belt, took the musket from his shoulder, and
then with a cord he had brought with him bound his feet, and turning him
over fastened his wrists tightly together.

Then he raised him, and placed him in a sitting position against the t