elf.

With several bottles of old rum I returned on deck, and with one in my
hand I sat myself down near the two men guarding the hatchway.

"The mate finds this stuff very good," said I; "will you take a glass?"
They did not say no, but pronounced it excellent.

"The rest should not be kept out of their share," I remarked; "I'll take
them some." To this they would not agree; and wishing to keep it all to
themselves, drank it down much faster than they would otherwise have
done. I took the empty bottle away, and put a full one in its place,
much to their surprise, for they did not suspect my trick. Favouring my
design, the others heard them praising the rum, and asked them what they
were about. I instantly ran forward with two bottles.

"They have got some spirits which they think very good, and I have
brought you some bottles. There are several more stowed away somewhere
on deck, and if I can find them I will bring them to you."

"Bear a hand and bring them to us, but do not let Pinto see you, or he
will be laying an embargo on them," said one of the men in a low voice,
thinking the mate might hear him.

In a short time all the pirates, including even Mark Anthony, were lying
about the decks in a state of helpless intoxication.

With my knees trembling with agitation, I hurried aft, and told Captain
Dean what had occurred. Leaving Mary in the cabin, he accompanied me on
deck, and we instantly set to work to get the hatches off. We
succeeded, and, going below, found the mates and crew, most of them
overcome with fatigue, fast asleep. It was the work of a minute to
rouse them up, to explain what had happened, and to cut loose the
lanyards with which they were secured.

I told them that they must make a simultaneous rush on deck; that they
must bind me with the rest of the pirates; that they must put us into a
boat with a couple of small sculls, just to enable us to reach the
shore; and that they must then cut their cable, and get to sea as fast
as possible.

"I do not see what should prevent us from carrying all hands off
prisoners," said the first mate. The idea that they might do so had not
occurred to me. I wished most cordially that they would, but my oath
made it incumbent on me to return if I had the power.

"We must do as this young man requires," said Captain Dean. "We will
abide by his decision."

"Then I must beg that you will without delay put me and my companions
into a boat, and be of