80 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

tion of time before she would be at a safe distance from
the inhospitable island.

«“ Now I reckon we can give our undivided attention to
our yellow friends who propose to pay us a visit!’’ Ben
said in a triumphant tone to the young girl, after ordering
his prisoners to their stations at the main rigging, and
threatening them with the direst vengeance if they should
make any attempt at going over the rail.

“JT did think you were unwise in trying to get the brig
under sail with those three fellows,’ Miss Dunham said,
as Ben stood for one brief instant by her side; “but I
must admit you were right. If we were still at anchor
that crowd of villains would necessarily make short work
of us after the first discharge of the cannon, and she
pointed to the fleet of sampans which was being paddled
onward at full speed.

There could be no mistake as to the intentions of the
newcomers; there were at least fifty men, each armed
with murderous -looking knives and hatchets, and not a
few carrying muskets, all shouting at the full strength of
their lungs to the accompaniment of drums and cymbals,
as if they expected to accomplish quite as much by noise
as by force of arms. :

« Are you going to leave those prisoners at liberty?”
Miss Dunham asked, as Ben stood looking at the howling
enemy, and wondering whether it would not be best to
open fire on them at once.

«JT reckon we may as well. It won’t pay to trice them
up again, for it is possible they may be needed to handle