rejoin the ship, report
to Winter and Bascomb all that we have done and learned; and say it is
my wish that they shall act as may seem to them best, and without any
reference at all to what may have become of me; for if I do not return
to you by the time that I have named it will be because I cannot, having
fallen into the hands of the Spaniards. And now, if you are ready, let
us be going."

Silently, and with the observance of every precaution to prevent
betrayal of the longboat's hiding-place to any chance wanderer in the
neighbourhood, the pair forced a way through their leafy bower and up
the steep bank until they emerged upon clear ground, when, bearing away
to the eastward round the foot of the hill which they had that day
ascended, they groped their way cautiously over the unfamiliar ground
until, in the course of about half an hour, they caught the dim shimmer
of starlight upon water, and, between them and it, a group of dark,
shapeless blotches which, upon their nearer approach, they identified as
the hovels constituting the fishing village which they had seen during
the day from the top of the hill.

Circling round these, they presently reached the water's edge, where, as
they had fully anticipated, they found a dozen or more canoes of various
sizes hauled up on the beach, most of them with their nets piled up in
their sterns. They looked about for the smallest canoe they could find,
and having overhauled her as carefully as the light would allow, and
satisfied themselves as to her seaworthiness, removed the nets from her
to the craft nearest at hand and, lifting her by her two ends, carried
her down to the water, and set her afloat. Then, with a quick
hand-clasp and a low-murmured "Goodbye, lad, and take care of yourself
and the men," Marshall stepped softly into the crank little craft,
seated himself in the stern, and with a vigorous thrust of the paddle
sent himself off into deep water, where a few minutes later he was
swallowed up by the darkness. Dick stood by the water's edge, watching
the small black blur which represented man and canoe as it receded from
the shore until it vanished; and then turned slowly away to retrace his
steps to the longboat, happily unconscious that he had looked his last
upon his gallant leader.

Returning safely and without difficulty to the longboat, Dick Chichester
whispered to the man who was keeping watch that thus far all was well;
and then bestowed himself in the