Part 57 (1/2)

”Of course not, nor yet that way, To now”

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT

TOM MAKES A SUGGESTION

Morning was a long tiht of day shed hope into all their hearts, and, forgetful of the sufferings of the night, Mark's eyes were strained as far as the cabin ould adht Dance's head had evidently proved sufficiently clear to enable hih to keep out of the would-be captor's reach, unless she were soht forward and the American captain was in pursuit

Whenever any tack was limpse of her, but all in vain, and the prisoners sat about avoiding each other's eyes, for, in spite of all determination to be patient and try and think out some plan, a hopeless state of despondency would creep over the theht, and lowered a bucket of fresh water, the A down in a fierce snarl that if they made any further attes

”If you can,” cried Mark, defiantly, and then he shrank and gave an uneasy glance round at his men to see what effect the Ah the Yankee uttered the one word ”cockerel,” and slaht

”Never you mind, sir,” whispered Toaaive him one p'r'aps 'fore he knohere he is”

It eary work in that breathlessly hot cabin, but no onewhy their captors did not set the that they would have done so had they not dreaded being followed and caught when becalmed, and then surprised For it was evident that, for reasons of his own, the A the coast, with its many creeks and rivers, where he could hide or run from pursuit

It soon became evident that either the other prize had been taken and sent off, or Dance had n of her

Torieved

”He hty still, sir, or he wouldn't ha' done it

He's gone off with that there craft I would ha' stood by ht ca along south, and they had full testiive theht was tried and the door There was a discussion as to the possibility of getting through the bulkhead forward, and one or two attempts were made, but each time, at the first crack made by the wood, there was the report of a pistol, and the shattering of the bulkhead above their heads, plain proof that they were strictly watched by one who had had orders to fire at the first attempt

”P'raps we'd best take it coolly, sir,” said Tom Fillot, the second time, ”or else put it off till after dark”

Mark nodded, and sat listening to solare at the cabin-hatch; and Mark hi ires the backs of the scoundrels who treated their black felloorse than they would have treated dogs

Then night caet on deck; but to their disgust and ht, where it would cast down its rays and shohat they were about, and once more when a movement was made to lass, a bullet struck down into the floor, and a sharp report told them hoell their captors were upon the _qui vive_

”Look here,” shouted Tom Fillot, ”I knoho you are, Mr Skipper

You'll be hitting some one if you don't mind, and it may be murder”

There was no response, and the little party subsided into a state of despair

Excepting Mark

He was as determined as ever to escape, and felt that there must be a way if he could only hit upon it

His last idea was to raise soet down belohere theythis while acould be done but wait

Mark sat back against the bulkhead, with his hand playing with the hilt of his ed to retain all through his various struggles, fro it into its sheath the lared up at the skylight feeling as if he would give anything to have a fair chance on deck, his ainst the American skipper's, and the victory to the bravest andHe was ready, boy as he was, to lead the wound up to a pitch of utter recklessness