er.

"After everything was finished to his satisfaction, he calls us all aft,
and tells us that he'd been thinking matters over, and he'd decided to
take the ship to Hong-Kong, and get rid of the sandalwood there, and get
a lot of things that was wanted to complete our outfit, and make us fit
for a good long cruise.

"Accordin'ly, as soon as the breeze sprang up, away we goes, never
falling in with anything as Johnson thought it worth his while to meddle
with all the way.

"We had a pretty quick run, for the brig sailed quite wonderful; and all
the while I was turning over in my mind how to get away. I intended to
take the first chance as offered, as soon as we got in; but Johnson was
a 'cute chap, none of us was let out of the ship any more'n he could
help, and then only they as he knowed he could trust.

"At last the cargo was out and the ballast in, the brig cleared for the
South Pacific, and everything ready for sailing next morning, and I'd
had no chance to get away, and I was beginning to think things were
looking queer with me. But I didn't give up all hope, for I knowed a
chance _might_ offer at the last minute, if I was but ready to take it.

"Some time during the night I woke up and went on deck for a minute or
two, and found it as black as pitch. There wasn't a soul moving in the
ship. I don't know where the anchor watch was; stowed away asleep
somewheres, likely. Anyhow, I thought to myself that now was my chance,
so, without waiting another minute, I climbs over the bows, and lets
myself quietly down into the water by the cable. As soon as I was
adrift, I lets the tide take me, for I was afraid of makin' so much as a
splash whilst I was near the ship. I drifted astern for about five
minutes, and then struck out. I hadn't taken no bearings, and didn't
know where the shore was; but I saw a few lights, and I shaped a course
for them.

"But after I'd swam about a matter of twenty minutes I found I was
farther away from 'em than I was when I started; and then the thought
flashed into my mind that the tide must be on the ebb, and that I was
going out to sea. I was so took aback that I went under. But I didn't
feel like giving up without I was obliged; so I struggled to the top of
the water again, and then turned over on my back to think matters over a
bit. But I didn't find much encouragement that way; and I was beginning
to think it was all up with me--'specially as I was getting pretty
tired--