among themselves.

"The Captain too I thought anything but honest looking.

"One evening while it was yet very early I told the Captain I would go
to my cabin, for the weather being rough I was feeling rather seasick;
but after reaching my stateroom I decided that fresh air would do me
more good than sleep, so went up on deck and stood at the side of the
cabin looking out at the sea, and trying to make out by the stars which
direction we were following.

"It was quite dark, for the time of year was late fall and the evenings
closed in quickly. As I stood there in the shadow of the cabin two
people came towards me, talking in low tones.

"'When?' asked one voice, which I recognized as that of the first mate.

"'To-morrow night,' said the Captain's rough bass. 'We'll run up the
merry old skull and crossbones as soon as it gets dark, change our
name, and get out the guns. We ought to meet the Hesperus before
morning, and she carries a full cargo of Spanish gold.'

"'But what will we do with the Prince,' asked the first mate. 'Kill
him and throw him overboard?'

"'Oh, make him walk the plank at midnight, after we are all ready.
We'll tell him the ship's been captured. He'll never know he's aboard
the "Maneater." He has a tidy sum of gold with him, and that we'll
divide, you and I.'

"They passed out of hearing and left me rooted to the spot with horror.

"I was aboard a pirate ship, and the 'Maneater' at that, for years the
terror of all travelers on the high seas!

"How could I escape? That was the one thought which filled my mind.
You may be sure I did not sleep at all that night, and early next day
had laid my plans.

"I went first and inspected the small boats. The Captain's gig was the
smallest and lightest, and hung near the bow ready to launch. I
watched my chance and when the cook was busy elsewhere stole a big
package of ship's biscuits and a pail of fresh water. These I stowed
away in the gig under the tarpaulin that covered it. Then I cut the
ropes nearly through so that with much added weight it would drop into
the water some twelve feet below.

"I waited impatiently for nightfall, and when supper time came told the
Captain that as I still felt rather seasick I thought I had better
retire to my stateroom.

"I waited until I knew that the crew were all at supper, and then stole
out to the stern of the ship, raised one of the hatches carefully, and
spreading some oakum on the top of a ta