Felix.—"Now, captain, if you had seen that big boy, would you not have walloped him?"

"Most certainly," said the captain, "but now we must be thinking of more important matters." And as the hot weather set in with more than ordinary vigour, it was very clear that we should not be safe in our caverns, subjected to the earthquakes that generally accompany the heat.

Besides we were getting restless and impatient. If all alone by ourselves, we had meditated getting the better of the pirates—think what wild schemes we now had, with Smart and the captain to help us.

But we must wait until some of them went away in the ships after their usual avocations, as even the bravest amongst us did not hope to conquer them all. They seemed however bent upon making their homes more comfortable before they went, and it was somewhat late in the season when they started in their own vessel, leaving La Luna and half their men behind. These latter were employed in sowing seeds and preparing the ground for fruits and vegetables. We saw but little of the women, as they hardly ever left their side of the island. We now discussed the possibility of dispatching those parties who were left behind, thinking though there were many more than we expected, yet we might get rid of them, and taking possession of La Luna, get off the island at once. A mad scheme it certainly was and nothing but the ardent longing we had to escape made us think of it so confidently.

In the meantime, Smart gained the captain's permission, to "settle" any of the men he might catch in a convenient position, so as to shoot them, without exposing himself or us to risk of discovery. So highly did he appreciate this permission, that he never ceased day or night dodging about and watching these people, and three times he came in with ill-concealed triumph, though he respected our feelings too much to do more than insinuate he had "settled" some one or more. We, in the meanwhile, occupied ourselves in making sacks and putting food into them, ready to start at a moment's warning should a favourable time arrive.

The pirates, we suppose, now began to suspect, from the extraordinary death of three of their men, that the two prisoners were concealed somewhere in the island, and not being able to discover them, or to account for deaths taking place in such different parts of the island, they kept altogether, close to the plantation side, and left the bay entirely to us.

This gave Smart an opportunity of getting to the ship and bringing off a boat, which we concealed by day in a cleft of the rock, but nightly we employed ourselves in running down to the shore with everything we had collected, which Smart and the captain stowed in the ship. We had been at this work about a week, in full confidence and in the highest spirits, our hopes were great, the dangers of the voyage appeared as nothing, all our plans seemed succeeding, when one night, just as we were all creeping up, tired and worn out with our night's work, we heard shriek upon shriek from one of our party.

The strong sonorous voice of the captain shouted to us to get to cover. Smart followed, huddling us all in like sheep, but, dark as it was, we could not see who was missing, and I could not trust my voice to ask. We ran to the inner cavern, and there, by the light of the torch, we missed the darling child, ZoË, and both the maids.

Smart.—"Don't fret, Ma'am, don't fret, no harm is done. We'll have 'em back by the morn. The cap'in and I will just take a step out and look about us, and you, Madam, will be ready to help us, no doubt," turning to Schillie.

Schillie.—"Yes, yes, Smart, I am quite willing. As for you, June, mind what Smart says, and don't fret. If we could rescue those two from all of them, think how much more likely we are to succeed now. I am only afraid that fool Hargrave will do us a mischief. I wish it had been any other person than her in the scrape."

Captain.—"Now then, Madam, send them all to rest, and don't fear anything. Smart and I are not likely to sit still while our brave deliverers are in danger. And as for my pretty flower, I'll cut through a wall of pirates to get at her."

Mother.—"Then, Madame, take them all away. I assure you I cannot sleep. I am ready to help with Schillie. Let us settle at once what is best to be done."

They all went off most unwillingly, while we arranged that getting up through the big cavern by the rope still concealed there, Smart should go to the pirates' village, in as secret a manner as he could, and find out what was best to be done, and where the prisoners were placed. No time was to be lost. He was guided immediately to the place, not only by the glare of the torches, but by the screams of Hargrave, and following them cautiously, he concealed himself close by one of the windows where they were put, and heard all that took place.

Jenny was recognised immediately, and the innocent child was frightened almost into a fainting fit by the rough and horrid manners of these dreadful people. But, according to Smart's account, Mrs. Hargrave was in a mort of tantrums. He got back in safety, though with much difficulty, and then detailed to us the following facts:

They were, as before, questioned all about themselves, and Jenny, as before, stoutly maintained all were dead. They pointed to the child, and smiled in scorn, but ZoË, like a brave little girl, positively refused to say more than Jenny did, making the tears run down Smart's face as he described the little white lips, so firm and decided; and each time, by way of puzzling her, they put the question in a different manner, each time she pointed to the three as if they were all.

Smart.—"I beant one bit afeard of them two, but I am of that Mrs. Hargrave; and it crossed my mind, when I heerd her shrieking and squalling for you all, if I had not better put a bullet in her head just to silence her, only I did not for ould acquaintance sake, and I seed, by the sniggling of them oudacious monsters, as they meant to get some'at out of her. I gave Jenny to understand as I was near at hand, and the brave little thing, I could see by her eye, knowed the sound, but never a sign gave she."

Captain.—"I am afraid, Smart, it is of no use trying to deceive them any longer, as they must be now aware that there is some place of concealment on the island unknown to them; and, from my knowledge of their character, I know their cunning and devilry is so great they will leave no stone unturned to find it out."

Smart.—"Cap'n, you and I agree, and it's through that weak fool Mrs. Hargrave as they'll sarcumvent us. I never thought she had much brains, and now I reckon she has worse nor none. Jenny and Miss ZoË would ha' got clear off, had it not been for her skriking and pulling at 'hem, for I heerd Jenny a giving it her handsome, saying she must ha' had the heart of a savage to keep such hold of Miss ZoË when the pirates took her, instead of letting the little innocent lady escape as she could; and, though she did not say so, I am partly sure Jenny might ha' got off well, only she was a-trying to get Miss ZoË free from that weak woman, a-holding on like grim death, and, finding she wasn't capable, she bided with the child to be a help and comfort to her."

Mother.—"Ah, how like that good Jenny."

Schillie.—"She certainly is a little trump, and never thinks of herself."

Madame.—"If I fold my darling ZoË in my arms once more, I shall never be able sufficiently to show my gratitude to Jane."

Captain.—"She shall never want for bite nor sup, once we get her free, as long as I live."

Felix.—"She is not your Jenny, captain, she is mine, she is always to live with me, and, when I am married, she is to be my children's nurse."

Sybil and Serena and Gatty all expressed their admiration, while Gatty added, "I wish Smart had sent his bullet where he said, for if there is an owl in the world it is that Hargrave."

The captain proceeded to state that there seemed no likelihood of the prisoners being harmed at present. I had visions before my eyes of the old stories where innocent children are brought forward with bloody swords held over their heads, ready to be sacrificed if they did not confess and capitulate, and while all agreed they would sacrifice themselves for ZoË and Jenny, Smart and the captain declared we were not allowed the choice, for our lives were in their keeping, and all must not be sacrificed for two. We none of us seemed to have the least pity or care for poor Hargrave.

"It was mighty lucky," said Smart, "she could speak nothing but her mother tongue, and that but badly clipping and mincing it, for she was letting out everything in such a way I could ha' shook her well; and I'll be bound to do it when I next see her. I hopes as they did not understand, but I ha' my doubts."

The captain now set them all to work watching at different posts, with orders to run and tell him all that occurred every half hour. Turning to Schillie and me he said, "Ladies I would advise you to prepare for the worst. They will work on the fears of that silly woman I doubt. We must be prepared, and while I can defend the entrance for a good hour, you must make your retreat, and where that is to be the Lord only knows."

Mother.—"If we could get to the top of that big rock standing out this side the bay, we can keep them off for some time there."

Captain.—"That rock is but changing one desperate hope for another. However we must trust in God. I'll try and believe that poor woman will not utterly forget herself and us."

Schillie.—"Why! my good captain, this island is like a rabbit warren, they can never unearth us if we choose to be moderately careful."

Captain.—"I have no doubt we could hide here for some time, but, with such a lot of young ones all the care in the world on our parts may be upset in a moment by thoughtlessness on theirs. Besides, they won't leave a corner unvisited I feel sure, partly out of revenge, for they are a most spiteful race, and partly from feeling persuaded you are the people so long lost, and for whose recovery such large rewards are offered."

Schillie.—"In that case I imagine they won't harm us."

Captain.—"They might not perhaps have done so at first, but 'they will cut off their nose to spite their face' I am certain; by which I mean they will be so savage at losing their men, and so angered at having been deceived all this time by such a helpless party, that they might murder us all in cold blood on the spur of the moment."

Schillie.—"And that will be very unpleasant as far as I can judge."

Mother.—"I should think we could make some hiding places amongst the caverns, captain."

Captain.—"So we could, Madam, had we time, and if I live but an hour, or for one hundred years, my regret at not having taken the precaution will be the same."

Schillie.—"Give me any orders you like, captain, and they shall be done if possible."

Captain.—"I know they will, I know for certain they will, so now I will tell you all I think, and you shall decide for yourselves. In the first place, have you any doubt but that if the pirates let Mrs. Hargrave go as to where she will come?"

Schillie.—"Like any wild bull she will of course rush to these caverns and expose our hiding places."

Captain.—"Then we agree, Madam, and without doubt the pirates will watch her and discover all. Now are we to run the chance of finding safe hiding places in these numerous caverns, or show ourselves at once and give fair fight?"

Mother (shaking and shivering).—"That I hold to be impossible, for there must be twelve pirates left, besides all the women and children, and look at us."

Captain.—"We have but a poor chance indeed, Ma'am, but remember, Madam, Smart and I have the hearts of a dozen strong men in our bosoms, ready to sacrifice all for those we love so much, and who risked their lives to save us. I feel, yes, I feel as if a wall of pirates must fall before such a spirit as is within me fails."

Mother.—"But in the fight, supposing any of the children should get hurt, supposing one of the party were killed, I think, I really think I would rather all went at one blow than that we should have to mourn the loss of one."

Captain.—"I can understand your feelings well, Madam, and——"

Schillie.—"Come, captain, don't let her talk any more nonsense, crying her eyes out, let you and I go and take as quick a view of the caverns as we can, and leave her to watch, there is no danger for an hour or so. And here is a pencil and a bit of paper for you to keep you quiet until we come back. Write a page for that beautiful journal, for you have got something rather more interesting to detail than heretofore."

Mother.—"Schillie, I shall really begin to think you quite heartless."

Schillie.—"Pray do. I only wish it was the case, for I doubt our hearts will be sadly torn to bits the next few days."

They returned in less than an hour with rather less hope than they had before of our being able to hide in the caverns. One thing was certain we could not hide altogether, and the notion of being in different places, and not knowing whether one set might not be discovered and the others looking on, not daring to help for fear of discovering more, quite upset me. I began to think any fate was better than playing bo-peep in the caverns, and so I said, "We will take our chance on the rock, for we have many things ready by the waterfall which were meant for the ship, and we need but snatch up a bundle a-piece."

Schillie.—"When up there, too, we can look down upon our enemies, and take good aim. I shall not fire at random, but pick out my man."

Mother.—"Don't be so bloody-minded. Hark! there is a scream!"

The captain looked out, applying an epithet to Mrs. Hargrave that only the exigency of the case could excuse. He said, "Here she comes, and I make no doubt the whole body of them after her. You'll find lots of bottles and kegs on the right hand side within the waterfall. Whatever you do think of water. Hang that woman she is coming straight away. I see those rascals close behind her, she'll be here in five minutes. Come, gang, oh gang yer ways, oh aye here she is, sailing like a mad woman."

Mother.—"Then you think we had better go at once to the rock."

Captain.—"Yes, yes, without a doubt. Ye'll get up without a soul seeing ye, and ye can kick in the brushwood weel. Now gang, gang yer ways, and when aince up, keep close as mice."

Schillie.—"I begin to think you have some nous in your head, June, thinking of that rock. It's so near the ship we may, perhaps, get off in the night."

Mother.—"Heaven grant it. How that woman screams."

Schillie.—"I should like to give her something to scream about, but you are loading yourself like a pack horse. Well done, Sybil; now, girls, scuttle about, take what's useful; whoever carries up anything not wanted will have to bring it back again in the teeth of the enemy."

Gatty.—"If you please, little Mother, may I stop behind for one minute, just to speak my mind to Hargrave."

Schillie.—"She won't be let in this hour, you ape. Now is our only time for getting up to the top of that rock; where we shall have a full view of the enemy all round."

Madame.—"Gracious heaven, preserve us all. What dangers have we not to endure from the frightful weakness of one woman."

Schillie.—"It's no use moralizing, Madame, pick up something useful, and be off."

Gatty.—"Here is the green parasol, Madame."

Serena.—"And here is your warm shawl."

Sybil.—"And here is my arm to help you along."

Madame (murmuring).—"May God help us, may the Almighty look down upon us in our hour of need, and preserve my beloved ones."

Sybil.—"Come, Madame, come, see how active the little ones are. Think how charming to be safe up there, think how lucky we are to have Smart and the dear captain to help us. Look at Otty with all the guns running like a hare, and all the little girls flying like lapwings. Come, Madame, come quickly."

So we ran about in every direction, and, collecting everything that was useful, we left our friendly shelter and took refuge on the isolated rock before-mentioned.

There was some brushwood at the top, and two or three old weather-beaten palm trees, these afforded us most welcome shelter.

It was weary work getting to the top, but when once there we hauled up many of our things by ropes, and some of us had time to return to the cavern and bring away a rope ladder, with several other valuable acquisitions that, had we been hurried, we should not have recollected them, also quantities of water.

To our surprise, we saw nothing of Smart after Hargrave's first scream; he disappeared, and we were all upon the rock but Madame when we missed him, requiring his strong arm to help her up.

Not all the assistance we could give her seemed likely to get her to the top, she was in so nervous a state. In vain she implored us to leave her to her fate. Nothing but seeing us all begin to scramble down again to share it with her made her at last, in a fit of desperation, reach the top. When there, she sunk on the ground helpless, and we laid her at the foot of one of the palm trees, where she declared she would breathe her last sigh. The three elder girls now collected all the precious drops of water, putting them under bushes, covering them with sand, to prevent the powerful sun from evaporating the smallest quantity of such precious liquid.

Schillie and the boys prepared the guns and pistols, putting everything "handy," as they called it, for a siege. We snatched a hasty meal, not knowing when we might have another opportunity; then laying ourselves down, we hid snugly in the brushwood, seeing everything, yet utterly unseen ourselves.

Gatty.—"It's jolly fun being perched up here seeing all the country round. But what is the reason we have come up?"

Schillie (shortly).—"You were ordered to, that's enough."

Gatty (half whispering to the girls).—"The bear is out to-day. If I don't mind I shall get a scratch from its claws."

Schillie (overhearing).—"Bear or not, Miss Gatty, you will be so good as to keep a silent tongue in your head."

Gatty.—"If you please, little Mother, why?"

Mother.—"Why, Gatty, don't you perceive that if we continue to hide ourselves as we do now the enemy will never guess where we are. But if you chatter like any magpie, of course they will find us out."

Gatty.—"Well, I am ready to do anything reasonable and now that I have had a good reason given me, I'll be as mute as any mole."

Schillie.—"Who deems a mole like you worth a reason."

Sybil.—"Oh, little Mother, Gatty has a capital head when she is trusted."

Schillie.—"Filled with your notions, I suppose, Miss Sybil."

Gatty.—"If you please, little Mother, cannot we get off to the ship to-night; it's quite close, and no sharks to speak of."

Schillie.—"When your advice is asked, then you may give us your sage opinions."

Mother.—"Come, Schillie, don't be so cross to the poor girls. You know Gatty has given your own advice in almost your own words."

Schillie.—"Why don't you and those two magpies follow the example of that good child Serena, and hold your tongues, as she does."

Mother.—"We shall not be disturbed yet awhile. But what makes you so cross?"

Schillie.—"I wonder you don't see what a predicament we are in; and it is no very pleasant prospect being sea-sick for the next month, let alone going to sea in this mad way, with only the captain for crew."

Mother.—"Indeed it is very hazardous. I almost think we had better not trust ourselves to the sea, but run our chance with the pirates."

"Oh, no, no," said all the girls and boys.

"Now if you make such a noise again, children, down you shall all go into the mouths of those sharks," said Schillie.

"Then promise not to give up," said they in return.

"I promise nothing," said she.

"Then the king of the pirates will come and take you away, cousin," said Felix.

Schillie uttered something between a sigh and a groan, and then said, "You are an impudent boy, Master Felix, and I always tell your Mother you'll come to no good. But whether she will live to see you hanged or not I cannot say, for our fate is horrible every way. Just too as we were getting so comfortable, and having everything so nice and snug about us. I do not think there is a plant on the island of which I have not discovered the name and property, and everything grows so beautifully, and such bathing, besides, such delicious fish, and I am so fond of fish, really it is too bad. I am just beginning to think the island a very nice sort of little place, and here we are sent to the right about in this horrid fashion."

Gatty.—"Cannot we somehow contrive to kill all the pirates, and get rid of them altogether."

Sybil.—"Yes, we could shoot them from here, taking good aim."

Gatty.—"Ha! ha! just listen to Sybil. Could any one ever have thought she would have been so bloody-minded."

Serena.—"I wish ZoË and Jenny were safely with us, then we should be quite happy, having only the captain and Smart to wait for."

Sybil.—"I dare say that is the reason Smart left us in such a hurry."

Gatty.—"I hope it is as you say, old Syb, and I hope still more that they will join us soon, and I hope most of all that they will leave Hargrave behind."

Sybil.—"Poor thing, but what will they do with her?"

Gatty.—"Eat her, I dare say, and very tough——"

Lilly.—"Oh, Mother, look there! Oh, look! look! Here is ZoË coming, and Smart, and Jenny."

Up we all jumped, and saw the three stealing round the rocks, not two hundred yards from the shore. Run, we all shouted, waving everything we could lay our hands on. They saw us in a moment, and quitting the shelter of the rocks, ran down towards us.

At this moment a noise of yelling and screaming was heard, and the whole body of pirates, men, women, and children, came rushing out from underneath the waterfall.

Smart heard them first, and catching up ZoË in his arms, giving Jenny some directions, he plunged into the sea, while Jenny kept running to that point of the rock where was the only accessible point for scrambling up. The tide was half flow, which favoured Smart but would impede Jenny, unless she dashed through the waves without regarding a wetting. By the care that Smart took of his little charge, and by Jenny's deliberate proceedings, we saw the servants both meant to sacrifice themselves for the sake of the child.

We, on our parts, were bewildered for a moment with the coming strife, but the thoughtful boys, rolling stones down to startle away the sharks before their dear Smart's way, recalled us to our senses. We let down the rope ladder, and the ready Smart swam to it. Placing his precious charge on it, he watched her run nimbly up it and we receive her with rapture in safety, when he wiped his streaming brow, and plunged into the sea again.

Leaving the little ones all to kiss and embrace the lost and found, we ran to the other side to watch Jenny, and help her if we could. She is flying now, and dashes through the water, heedless of the coming waves. She does not intend to be taken prisoner again without a struggle. But there is one horrid pirate outstripping all the others. "Oh, Jenny, Jenny, run, he is gaining on you." What shall we do to help her? How shall we bear to see her taken before our eyes? She touches the rock. "A few more steps, Jenny, and you can seize the rope we have let down to assist you. Oh, horrid fellow, did ever any one run so fast. Ah, it is of no use, dear, dear Jenny; one more effort." "Mother, Mother," said Oscar, "cannot I shoot him?" "No, dear boy," said Schillie, "you cannot without hurting Jenny." "But let me try, do let me try. Oh dear, oh dear, it is too late, he has hold of her." Throwing away his gun, the boy swung down by the rope before we could prevent him. In vain Jenny called on him not to come, he was down in a moment, and attacked the pirate, who had both arms round Jenny, with his cutlass. She struggled, and turning round aided his efforts by buffeting the pirate in the face with her hands and nails. At this moment Smart appeared, emerging from the sea, having swam round the rock. One blow from his powerful fist settled the matter. The pirate fell down stunned upon the rocks. Oscar gave him a parting kick, and then all three assisting each other, scrambled up the rock in no time, where we most joyfully received them, and where they did not arrive a minute too soon, for the whole body of pirates were close at hand.