on charging us as long as that bridge is there. All they want is to
employ us here till daylight, and by that time we must be out of the
bay, or we can just consider ourselves captured. I've got another idea,"
he added, suddenly. "Mr. Mate, send a man to the vessel after a rope."

"Will Atkins," said Xury, "go down and fetch up a rope."

"Will Atkins! Will Atkins!" repeated the owner of that name, angrily.
"It's always Will Atkins, if there is any thing to be done. Aint there
nobody in this band that can do nothing besides Will Atkins?"

"Go on, now, an' bring up that rope, an' quit your growlin'," commanded
the governor, sternly.

Atkins sullenly started down the path, grumbling to himself as he went,
and vowing vengeance against the officers of the band. The mutinous
spirit in him was as strong as ever, and only awaited a favorable
opportunity to break forth again in open opposition to the governor's
authority. He spent a good deal of time in searching for the rope, and,
before he returned to the chasm, the Crusoe men had successfully
resisted another attempt, on the part of the students, to charge across
the bridge.

"How are things in the village?" asked the governor, as Atkins
spitefully threw the rope down in front of Tom. "Did you see Mr. Henry?"

"I hain't been near the village for two hours," replied the discontented
member.

"Well, you might have been there and back two or three times, since you
went away. I concluded you couldn't find a rope on board the vessel, and
had gone over to Mr. Henry's store for one."

Some sharp words passed between the governor and his man, and while the
conversation was going on, Tom completed his arrangements for carrying
out his new idea, which were very simple. He coiled the rope on the
ground so that it would run out rapidly, and to one end of it fastened
a heavy stone. "I understand it all, now," said the chief. "That bridge
is bound to come down. Be ready to run, fellers, the minute I grab the
valise," he added, in a whisper.

Tom's first attempt to remove the bridge was successful. He threw the
stone over it, hauled in on the rope, and in a moment more the saplings
were lying at the bottom of the chasm. The yell of indignation which
arose from the students, mingled with the triumphant shouts of the
Crusoe men.

"That's the way to do it," cried Sanders. "We are all right now. I say!
Hold on, there, boy!" he continued, in quite a different tone of voice,
when he