ventured to come.

At last the negro Michael called the captain and me, and in the hearing
of the people, pointing to a hut, told us that it was to be our home.
The whole population having had plenty of work for the last few days,
retired to their huts, and left us in quiet. As may be supposed,
neither the captain nor I ventured to sleep, though, for my part, I
would very gladly have done so. We waited for some time with no little
anxiety. It was at last relieved by the appearance of Michael.

"Come," he whispered, "follow me. I could only ask seamen to take the
path by which I must lead you." He glided out, and we stepped after
him.

There was no moon, but the stars shone forth brightly, and gave us
sufficient light to see what was near at hand. Michael led the way
close to the spot where our companions had been murdered in the morning.
On a sudden he disappeared, and I thought that he had fallen over the
precipice. A pang shot through me. But no, he had merely begun to
descend by a narrow path cut in the rock. It was indeed both narrow and
steep. Sometimes we had to drop down several feet to a ledge below.
There were probably holes in the rock by which people might ascend, but
it was too dark to see them. Often we had to press along with our
breasts to the precipice, holding on to its rugged sides, and with our
backs over a yawning gulf. I would rather, however, have been on the
topsail-yard-arm in the heaviest gale that ever blew: with a good honest
rope in my hand, than where I then was. But darkness prevented our
seeing half its terrors. More than once I thought that I should have
gone over; but the captain, whose steps I closely followed, supported me
with his powerful arm, and brought me along in safety. He did not utter
a word, and his breath often came fast, as if he was undergoing great
physical exertion, and was well aware of our perilous position. I know
that my knees trembled beneath me when Michael told us that we had
reached the bottom.

"We have gained some miles by this path towards the sea," said he, "and
escaped the risk of being observed. Few even of the people up there
know the path, and fewer still would venture to descend by it. Now, let
us on; we have many miles to go before morning."

I need not describe our night's journey. For several hours we walked,
and often ran on, without stopping even a moment to rest. It is
extraordinary what people can do when they are pressed