eded in doing. Once there, I commenced a stealthy
approach, putting each foot carefully and noiselessly to the ground, and
not venturing to raise one until the other was firmly planted. In this
manner I contrived to make my way onward unobserved, and at last gained
a cover behind the trunk of the tree against which the oars were
standing.

I now took as complete a survey of the bivouac as I could without
exposing myself, and, counting heads, I found that there were no fewer
than eighty-three sleeping pirates within a few yards of me, in addition
to the man on watch. He appeared to be, just at the moment, either in a
fit of deep abstraction or a doze; so, without waiting for a better
opportunity, I cautiously reached my arm round the tree-trunk, grasped
one of the oars, and brought it round to my own side, without so much as
the rustle of a leaf. Emboldened by my success, I now tried for the
second, which I also succeeded in securing.

Taking an oar in each hand, I at once proceeded to retrace my steps,
and, for the first stage, aimed at getting behind a tree which stood
only about three yards distant. I soon reached this spot, and on
slipping behind the trunk, and taking a hasty glance backward, I was
greatly alarmed at seeing the pirate on watch on his feet, looking
intently in my direction, and shading his eyes with his hand. I at once
concluded that I had been seen, and waited in breathless expectancy for
the shout which was to raise the entire crew upon me; but, instead of
this, I heard, after a short pause, the voice of the man in soliloquy
close to the tree against which the oars had been placed.

"It's d--d odd," I heard him mutter; "but I could have sworn that them
paddles was standin' up ag'in this here tree, half-an-hour ago; what the
h--l's become of 'em? _Surety_ none of the chaps is slipped off to have
a yarn with old Steve; he won't thank 'em for disturbing of him at this
time o' night, and rousing him out from between the guns, where I'll lay
anything the old dormouse is snugly coiled away, instead of looking
a'ter the brig, as is his dooty. I'll just slip down to the beach, and
see if the boats is all right."

I crouched down behind the tree, and peeped cautiously round the bole;
and there, sure enough, was my watchful gentleman sauntering down
towards the boats. I allowed him to get far enough away to prevent his
seeing me if he suddenly turned round, and then quickly made my way
along the