Squill stoutly. "It's my opinion that when they've
kilt you, Grummidge, they'll be like tigers when they've tasted blood:
they'll want to kill the rest of us. No; I've made up me mind to bolt,
and, if need be, fight, an' so has all the rest on us--so heave ahead,
cappen, an' tell us what we've got to do."

"Well, boys, here it is," said the captain. "You see this weapon." He
took up the heavy bludgeon that Oliver had made for himself on
commencing his travels in Newfoundland. "Well, I've brought this here
every time I've come just to get the two sentries accustomed to see me
with it. This is your last night on earth, Grummidge, so I'm goin' to
pay you an extra visit about midnight, by way of sayin' farewell. As I
pass the sentries--who are quite used to me now--I'll fetch the first
one I come to such a crack with this here that he will give no alarm.
Before the other has time to wink I'll treat him to the same. It's a
mean sort o' thing to do, but necessity has no law, so I've made up my
mind to go through with it."

"It'll be a bad look-out if you do," said Grummidge.

"It'll be a worse look-out if I don't," replied the captain. "Then,
when that's done," he continued, "I'll cut your lashin's, an' we'll
crowd all sail for the woods, where I have already concealed some arms
an' dried deer's-meat, an' if we can't get fair off and make for the
east coast, we'll get on the top o' some mound or rock an' show these
Redskins what English seamen can do when they're hard pressed."

"Not to mintion Irish wans!" said Squill.

"An' have Master Paul an' Hendrick agreed to fall in wi' this mad plan?"
asked Grummidge.

"No, I can't say they have. To say truth, considerin' that Hendrick's a
relation o' the Redskins an' that Master Paul is his friend, I thought
it best to say nothing to them about it. So I'll--"

He was interrupted here by the sudden entrance of Hendrick and Paul
themselves, accompanied by Bearpaw and the sentries. To one of the
latter the chief gave an order, and the man, drawing his knife, advanced
to Grummidge. The seaman instinctively shrank from him, but was
agreeably surprised on having his bonds cut. The others having also
been liberated, the chief said:--

"My pale-faced brothers are free."

"Yes, lads," said Paul, heartily grasping Grummidge by the hand. "God
has sent deliverance at the eleventh hour--you are all free."

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

THE LAST.

The joy with which the n