g Jellybags fetched thirty pound in Port
Royal, duty free." He seemed to think that this story was something
laugh at.

I strained my ears to hear more of what they said. I could catch nothing
more relating to myself. Nothing more was said about me. They told each
other stories about the African shore, where the schooners anchored in
the creeks, among the swamp-smells, in search of slaves or gold dust.
They told tales of Tortuga, where the pirates lived together in a town,
whenever they were at home after a cruise. "Rum is cheaper than water
there," the bo'sun said. "A sloop comes off once a month with stores
from Port Royal. Its happy days, being in Tortuga." Presently the two
men crept aft to the empty cabin to steal the captain's brandy. Soon
afterwards they passed forward to their hammocks.

When they had gone, I lay awake, wondering I was to avoid this terrible
danger of being sold to the Dutch East India merchants. I wondered
who Longshore Jack might be. I feared that the carpenter suspected our
party. I kept repeating his words, "There's money in Mr. Jermyn," till
at last, through sheer weariness, I fell asleep. In the morning, as
cleared away breakfast, from the cabin-table, I told Mr. Jermyn all
that I had heard. The Duke seemed agitated. He kept referring to an
astronomical book which told him how his ruling planets stood. "Yes,"
he kept saying, "I've no very favourable stars till July. I don't like
this, Jermyn." Mr. Jermyn smoked a pipe of tobacco (a practise rare
among gentlemen at that time) while he thought of what could be done. At
last he spoke.

"I know what we'll do, sir. We'll sell this man as carpenter to the
Dutch East India man. We'll give the two of them a sleeping draught in
their drink. We'll get rid of them both together."

"It sounds very cruel," said the Duke.

"Yes," said Mr. Jermyn, "it is cruel. But who knows what the sly man
may not pick up? We're playing akes, we two. We've got many enemies. One
word of what this man suspects may bring a whole pack of spies upon us.
Besides, if the spies get hold of this boy we shall have some trouble."

"The boy's done very well," said the Duke.

"He's got a talent for overhearing," Mr. Jermyn answered. "Well, Martin
Hyde. How do you like your work?"

"Sir," I answered, "I don't like it at all."

"Well," he said, "we shall be in the Canal to-night, now the wind has
changed. Hold out till then, think, sir," he said, turning to the Duke,
"the