ghed. "You're a bold boy!" said he. "We'll come at
daybreak."

"Have you got the clothes as I directed?"

"Yes."

"Then good night. I'll put my fire out, in case somebody else might see
it, who wouldn't be as kind as you are."

"Good night."

"Not a word for the Madam," said Staples, when they reached the vessel.

"Not a word, the ungrateful dog," asserted Blunt, adding, with some
heat, "That's the way with women. They'll go through fire and water for
a man that doesn't care a snap of his fingers for 'em; but for any poor
fellow who risks his neck to pleasure 'em they've nothing but sneers! I
wish I'd never meddled in the business."

"There are no fools like old fools," thought Will Staples, looking back
through the darkness at the place where the fire had been, but he did
not utter his thoughts aloud.

At eight o'clock the next morning the Pretty Mary stood out to sea with
every stitch of canvas set, alow and aloft. The skipper's fishing had
come to an end. He had caught a shipwrecked seaman, who had been brought
on board at daylight, and was then at breakfast in the cabin. The crew
winked at each other when the haggard mariner, attired in garments that
seemed remarkably well preserved, mounted the side. But they, none of
them, were in a position to controvert the skipper's statement.

"Where are we bound for?" asked John Rex, smoking Staples's pipe in
lingering puffs of delight. "I'm entirely in your hands, Blunt."

"My orders are to cruise about the whaling grounds until I meet my
consort," returned Blunt sullenly, "and put you aboard her. She'll take
you back to Sydney. I'm victualled for a twelve-months' trip."

"Right!" cried Rex, clapping his preserver on the back. "I'm bound to
get to Sydney somehow; but, as the Philistines are abroad, I may as well
tarry in Jericho till my beard be grown. Don't stare at my Scriptural
quotation, Mr. Staples," he added, inspirited by creature comforts, and
secure amid his purchased friends. "I assure you that I've had the very
best religious instruction. Indeed, it is chiefly owing to my worthy
spiritual pastor and master that I am enabled to smoke this very
villainous tobacco of yours at the present moment!"

CHAPTER XXVII. THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH.

It was not until they had scrambled up the beach to safety that
the absconders became fully aware of the loss of another of their
companions. As they stood on the break of the beach, wringing the wa