do," said Dick, stoutly; "ye must promise not to holler
out."

"I promise," said Gascoyne, sternly. "Pray cease this trifling, and if
it is not inconsistent with your duty, let me know where I am to be
taken to."

"That's just wot I'm not allowed for to tell. But you'll find it out in
the coorse of time. Now, all that you've got to do is to walk by my
side, and do wot I tell ye."

The prisoner made no answer. He was evidently weary of the
conversation, and his thoughts were already wandering on other subjects.

The door was now unlocked by one of the three men who stood near it. As
its hinges creaked, Dick shut the lantern, and threw the cell at once
into total darkness. Taking hold of Gascoyne's wrist gently, as if to
guide, not to force him away, he conducted him along the short passage
that led to the outer door of the prison. This was opened, and the
whole party stood in the open air.

Gascoyne looked with feelings of curiosity at the men who surrounded
him, but the night was so intensely dark that their features were
invisible. He could just discern the outlines of their figures, which
were enveloped in large cloaks. He was on the point of speaking to
them, when he remembered his promise to make no noise, so he restrained
himself, and followed his guard in silence.

Dick and another man walked at his side--the rest followed in rear.
Leading him round the out-skirts of the village, towards its northern
extremity, Gascoyne's conductors soon brought him to the beach, at a
retired spot, where was a small bay. Here they were met by one whose
stature proved him to be a boy. He glided up to Dick, who said in a low
whisper--

"Is all ready?"

"All right," replied the boy.

"The ooman aboard?"

"Ay."

"Now, Mr Gascoyne," said Dick, pointing to a large boat floating beside
the rocks on which they stood, "you'll be so good as to step into that
'ere boat, and sit down beside the individual you see a-sittin' there in
the stern-sheets."

"Have you authority for what you do?" asked Gascoyne, hesitating.

"I have power to enforce wot I command," said Dick, quietly. "Remember
yer promise, mister pirate, else--"

Dick finished his sentence by pointing to the three men who stood near--
still maintaining a silence worthy of Eastern mutes; and Gascoyne,
feeling that he was completely in their power, stepped quickly into the
boat, and sat down beside the "individual" referred to by Dick, who was
so comple