o foolish," replied Atkins. "What could me an' Jack do
ag'in you four fellers? We were talkin' about that money, an' we've
thought up a way to get it. Mebbe it won't work, but there's no harm in
tryin' it, you know."

The governor listened attentively while Atkins unfolded his plan, and
said it contained some suggestions that were well worth listening to.
The discontented member did not, however, tell all that he and his
companion had been talking about. He kept back some things which, had he
repeated them to the chief, would have brought him into trouble
immediately.

Sam went aft to consult with Tom, and presently the schooner's bow
veered around until it pointed toward one of the numerous islands that
lay near the middle of the bay. In reply to a question from Sanders, Tom
said:

"We're going to land. It isn't safe to continue our cruise at present,
for it is nearly daylight. There is a creek on Deer Island, and we think
it best to conceal ourselves there until night."

The governor and his men kept a bright lookout while they were running
across the bay toward the island, but none of their pursuers were in
sight, and, after coasting along the shore for a short distance, the
Sweepstakes entered the creek of which Tom had spoken. Half an hour
afterward she was snugly hidden in the bushes that grew in the water
along the edge of the bank, and her crew were stretched out on the deck,
sleeping soundly, after their night of excitement and adventure--all
except Will Atkins, who had been ordered to keep awake and watch for the
enemy. This was another injustice that the mutineer declared he would
not submit to. Wasn't he as sleepy as the others? and was there no one
in the band except himself who could stand watch? Because Tom, Sam, and
Xury were officers, was it any reason why they should shirk their share
of the work? Atkins could not see that it was, and he told himself that
he was about to do something that would make ample amends for all he had
endured at their hands.

But keeping a lookout for their pursuers was not the only duty Atkins
was expected to perform. He had a difficult and dangerous task to
accomplish, and one that he would rather had fallen to the lot of some
other member of the band. While he paced up and down the deck he thought
more of the passengers and their money than he did of the tugs that
might at any moment come steaming up the creek. The robbers lay upon the
forecastle, Sanders with the val