caping, but, removed as we
were from the coast, that we should succeed appeared almost impossible.

"I was one day labouring as usual, when the old chief came into the
garden, accompanied by another person whom I recognised to be the
captain of the ship which had captured us.

"He looked at me and inquired who I was. `He is the man who brought the
prize into the harbour,' he observed. `I am in want of some good seamen
for my new ship, and I will buy him of you, so name your price.'

"I was in hopes that the old chief would refuse, for though I might
possibly, by getting on board ship effect my escape, yet I was unwilling
to leave Mr Kerridge and his daughters to their hard fate. I found,
however, that the transfer had been made without the option of remaining
being given me, so I was carried off by the captain, and in two days
going on board the vessel he spoke of, I was ordered, under pain of
having my brains blown out, to perform the duty of a lieutenant. As it
would have been madness to resist, I tried to appear reconciled to my
lot, though I resolved on the first opportunity to make my escape. It
came sooner than I had expected.

"I confess when I sprang from the side of the corsair that I scarcely
hoped to reach your deck alive."

I need not say into what a state of agitation Mr Aylett's account threw
me. He repeated it again when Lancelot and Dick came below, and it was
with difficulty that we could attend to the duties of the ship, thinking
of the means to be taken for rescuing those for whom we had searched so
long. Mr Aylett, however, gave us no hope of success. "It would be
impossible even to communicate with them," he observed; "the only chance
would be to send a message to their owner, and to offer a large sum for
their ransom." How this message was to be sent was the question.
Aylett pointed out that were he to go he should be immediately seized as
a deserter and lose his life, while any other Englishman who might set
foot in the country would be carried off to slavery.

Unfortunately, much time must elapse before even the best-formed plan
could be put into execution, for so battered was our ship that it would
be absolutely necessary to go into port and refit before we could
venture on the coast.

It would be difficult to describe our feelings at the delay, yet our
better judgment told us it must be endured. It was a satisfaction to
know that Audrey and Cicely and Mr Kerridge and poor Marga