ed, if we may so put it. The first, who were few in number, sided
with Trench and his friends; the second declared for Swinton. But the
resolute bearing of Paul and the skipper, and the fact that the whole
party was destitute of weapons (except clubs cut out of the bush, and a
few clasp-knives), kept the larger and more vicious party in check.

Swinton and his friends, therefore, had recourse to secret plotting;
but, plot as they would, they had not sufficient brain-power among them
to devise a method by which to free themselves of the men they envied.

At last circumstances favoured them. It was found necessary to send men
to the other side of the island to cut and fetch over some small trees
that grew there, in order to make stages on which to dry their fish. As
the operation would require part of two days, it was proposed to spend
the night there. Swinton was to command the party, and Master Trench
said, jestingly, that he and Master Burns, with Olly, would stay to
guard the camp! The wood-cutting party was to start early the next day.

Then a plan of revenge flashed into Big Swinton's mind. That night he
revealed it to those of his friends whom he could trust, and who were
necessary to his purpose. The night following--while the men around
them should be sleeping at the other side of the island, and their
enemies were alone in the camp--was fixed on for the execution of their
purpose.

CHAPTER FIVE.

TURNED ADRIFT IN A FOREIGN LAND.

It was a calm but very dark night when Swinton, Blazer, Garnet, Heron,
Taylor, and several other men of kindred spirit, rose from their couches
at the further end of the island, and, stealthily quitting the place,
hastened back to their original camp.

They reached it about midnight, and, as they had expected, found all
quiet, for the so-called "guard" of the camp had been hard at work all
day and were at that moment fast asleep. Paul and the captain, with
Oliver, lay side by side under a tent which they had constructed out of
broken spars and a piece of sailcloth.

Their foes drew together not far from the spot.

"Now, men," said Swinton, "this is a tough job we have in hand, for they
are strong men, and the boy, albeit not big, is a very tiger-cat to
fight. You see, if our plan was murder we could easily settle their
business while they slept but that's not our plan. We are _not_
murderers--by no means!"

"Certainly not," growled Blazer, with virtuous solemni