tless
opposition? I have spoken frankly: but whatever is soberly determined
upon, however unwise in my view, I will abide by."

"I admit," answered Arthur, "that there is little prospect of success in
a conflict with them: but I regard our fate as certain if we submit, and
we can but be slain in resisting. I am so fully satisfied of Atollo's
designs in respect to him, that I should feel in giving him up, as if I
were an accessary to his murder."

"Let us rather defend ourselves to the very last extremity," said
Browne, earnestly, "if we are so unfortunate as to be found."

"If," said Max, with an excited air,--"if I really believed they would
kill Eiulo, I should say, never give him up, whatever the consequences
may be;--and I do think this Atollo must be an incarnate fiend. I don't
believe it will make any difference in their treatment of us whether we
resist or not."

"O no!" cried Johnny, who had been listening eagerly to this
conversation, while Eiulo stood looking wistfully on, as if he knew that
it concerned him. "O no! don't give him up to that wicked man. I would
fight, myself, if I had my bow and arrows, but they took them away from
me: can't we hide ourselves in the banyan tree?--they never will think
of looking for us there?"

"That is not a bad suggestion," said Morton, "and if we should be
discovered, it is a strong place to defend. We can move easily and
quickly about on that strong horizontal framework of branches, and it
will be a hazardous undertaking to climb those straight smooth trunks,
in our faces."

It seemed, in fact, as if a party stationed upon the roof, (as it might
be termed), of this singular tree, would occupy a vantage-ground from
which it would require strong odds to dislodge them, and the assailants,
unless provided with fire-arms, or missile weapons, would labour under
almost insurmountable difficulties.

Arthur discovered a place where it was easy to climb quickly into the
tree, and requested us all to note it particularly, in order that we
might effect a retreat without loss of time, if it should become
necessary. Johnny and Eiulo were to take refuge there at the first
alarm.

Browne proceeded to cut a number of bludgeons from stout saplings, which
he then deposited in different places among the branches, ready to be
used, in defending ourselves, if pursued thither. Max collected a
quantity of large stones, and fragments of rock, along the shore, and
from the bed of