re and come at least to speak to them, but
night came on and they were left alone. They had to coil themselves up
and go to sleep.

Next morning the first mate opened the door and put in some breakfast,
saying that it would be worse for them if they made any noise.

Several days passed by and they were thus kept in durance. They heard
at different times voices in the cabin; but not knowing who the speakers
were, they were afraid of crying out. At last they knew by the
movements of the ship that she was once more under way; and shortly
afterwards the mate came to the door and told them that they might go on
deck to attend to their duty. Greatly to their satisfaction, they saw
old Tom. He made a sign to them not to speak to him and turned away.

They waited till it was dark. He then came up to them as they were
standing together.

"I discovered that the captain had shut you up," he said; "and I did all
I could to get him to allow you to go on shore, but he said that he had
a right to detain you, and I of course would not leave the ship without
you. We must therefore watch for an opportunity of getting on shore at
some place where English authority is established, and we can make
complaints of the way you have been treated."

"I would rather land among savages than remain on board," said Harry.

"And so would I," exclaimed Bass. "And if you will come with us we will
try to escape at the first place we touch at."

"We must learn what sort of a place it is first," said old Tom, "or we
may be worse off than we are on board."

"We will talk about that by-and-by," said Harry. "I am very anxious to
know what has become of Mr and Mrs Hart."

"I am thankful to say they are among friends," answered old Tom.
"Missionaries have been for some time settled in these islands, and the
king and a considerable number of his people have become Christians.
Mr Hart did not forget you either, and he came on board to try and
learn what had become of you. The captain must have deceived him, and
persuaded him that you were no longer in the ship. He was coming off
again just as we were getting under way, and the captain would not then
allow him to come up the side."

"I am thankful, at all events, to hear that our friends are safe," said
Harry; "and we must try to make the best of it."

"That's a wise resolution, Harry," said Tom. "Even though the captain
should continue to ill-treat you, behave as you have hitherto done, an