water from his ears. "We went down together: I knew the
Indian trick, and being uppermost, had my thumbs in his eyes
before he could turn: but he carried me down to the very mud.
My breath was nigh gone, so I left go, and struck up: but my
toes tingled as I rose again, I'll warrant. There the beggar is,
looking for me, I declare!"

And, true enough, there was the huge brute swimming
slowly round and round, in search of his lost victim. It was
too dark to put in arrow into his eye; so they paddled on,
while Ayacanora crouched silently at Amyas's feet.

" Yeo" asked he, in a low voice, "what shall we do with
her?"

"Why ask me, sir?" said the old man, as he had a very
good right to ask.

"Because, when one don't know oneself, one had best inquire
of one's elders. Besides you saved her life at the risk of your
own, and have a right to a voice in the matter, if any one has,
old friend."

"Then, my dear young captain, if the Lord puts a precious
soul under your care, don't you refuse to bear the burden He
lays on you."

Amyas was silent awhile; while Ayacanora, who was evi-
dently utterly exhausted by the night's adventure, and probably
by long wanderings, watchings, and weepings which had gone
before it, sank with her head against his knee, fell fast asleep,
and breathed as gently as a child.

At last he rose in the canoe, and called Cary alongside.

"Listen to me, gentlemen, and sailors all. You know that
we have a maiden on board here, by no choice of our own.
Whether she will be a blessing to us, God alone can tell: but
she may turn to the greatest curse which has befallen us ever
since we came out over Bar three years ago. Promise me one
thing, or I put her ashore the next beach; and that is, that
you will treat her as if she were your own sister; and make an
agreement here and now, that if the maid comes to harm among
us, the man that is guilty shall hang for it by the neck till he's
dead, even though he be I, Captain Leigh, who speak to you.
I'll hang you, as I am a Christian; and I give you free leave to
hang me."

"A very fair bargain," quoth Cary, "and I for one will see
it kept to. Lads, we'll twine a double strong halter for the
captain as we go down along."

"I am not jesting, Will."

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