ed. Devereux and O'Grady were to
be told of it when all was ready, and were to be brought up on deck as
soon as it was dark, and stowed away in the boat herself till the moment
of escape had arrived. Paul was usually employed to carry food to the
midshipmen. Sometimes, however, Croxton went, sometimes Reuben, to
lessen the risk of his object being suspected. Paul waited till night--
the time he visited his friends--and hiding a lantern under his jacket,
carefully groped his way down to them. They highly approved of the plan
proposed for escaping from the ship, and were eager for the moment for
putting it into execution. O'Grady, especially, was heartily weary of
his confinement.

"I doubt if my two legs will ever be able to stretch themselves out
straight again, after being cramped up so long, like herrings in a
cask," he exclaimed, in the low tone in which it was necessary to speak.
"We owe you a heavy debt, Gerrard, and if you succeed in getting us out
of this, it will be a huge deal greater."

"If it were not for old Jim and Reuben Cole, I could be but of little
use, so say nothing about that, Mr O'Grady," answered Paul. "I am
going to try and find out on the charts, when the master is working his
day's work, exactly where we are, and if there's land near, we may,
perhaps, get away to-morrow."

Paul felt far from comfortable all the next day. He could not help
fancying that the mutineers suspected him, and that he should suddenly
find himself seized and thrown overboard. What he dreaded most was the
ultimate failure of the undertaking. His two friends had in the
meantime sounded those they hoped might join them, but whether all were
favourable to the plan he could not ascertain. His eye was constantly
on the master, who at length, seeing him near, sent him for his quadrant
and tables. This was just what Paul wanted. He stood by while the
observations were being taken, and then, carrying the instrument,
followed the master to the cabin. Paul brought out the chart, and
placed it before him, watching anxiously the movements of his companion
as he measured off the distance run since the previous day.

More than once the master glanced round the cabin, and sighed deeply.
"In five or six days my disgraceful task will be done," he muttered, as
he moved the compasses towards the coast of the Spanish main. "Then
what remains for me in life? If I escape an ignominious death, I must
ever be suspected of havi