e so doing would probably betray us to them, we
must leave her to them as a gift; and may she drown some of them before
they have done with her."

"I would rather we could catch her again with a few of them in her,"
observed Bowse. "I never like to wish an enemy worse luck than a good
thrashing, if I can meet him in fair fight; but, to be sure, from what
we hear of these fellows, they don't deserve much mercy from civilised
men, though we have no reason to complain of the way they have treated
us."

"Stay till they discover what we are about, and they would cut our
throats without ceremony," replied Captain Vassilato. "We shall do
wisely not to trust them."

Fleetwood walked on ahead without speaking. His mind was too much
occupied with the importance of the undertaking, and the risk to her he
loved, to allow him to enter into conversation; and, indeed, he wished
his friends would be silent, for, though it was not probable any of the
islanders were within hearing, it was possible that some one might be
out, and they might betray themselves. The same thing struck them at
last, and they followed in silence. The most difficult part of the
journey was where they had to mount the rude steps cut in the cliff, and
where the slightest slip might have proved fatal. They, however,
reached the open door in safety, and then proceeded more briskly on
their way. Wherever they could, they kept as much as possible under
shelter; but they had several open spaces to pass, where they could not
avoid exposing themselves to view; though, as there were no habitations
in the neighbourhood, they did not fear any danger from this
circumstance.

Any one who has been engaged in an undertaking, on which not only their
own life and safety depends, but also that of others, and among them of
one dearer than life itself, will understand the feelings which animated
Fleetwood's bosom, as the most difficult and dangerous part of the work
was about to be accomplished. The happiness, the pride, the joy
unspeakable which would be his, should he succeed in placing her in
safety, urged him dauntlessly on; at the same time the thought of what
would be the result of failure made him grave and serious; his own
speedy death, but that he set at naught; her misery and continued
captivity, and, perhaps, even a fate too horrible for him to
contemplate; and he did not forget that he had companions also, who had
generously risked their lives to assist him,