If these villains are
anxious to take us, they will soon overrun the whole island. But come,
follow me."
Stopping abruptly in his speech, Jack bounded into the woods, and led
us by a circuitous route to Spouting Cliff. Here he halted, and,
advancing cautiously to the rocks, glanced over their edge. We were
soon by his side, and saw the boat, which was crowded with armed men,
just touching the shore. In an instant the crew landed, formed line,
and rushed up to our bower.
In a few seconds we saw them hurrying back to the boat, one of them
swinging the poor cat round his head by the tail. On reaching the
water's edge, he tossed it far into the sea, and joined his companions,
who appeared to be holding a hasty council.
"You see what we may expect," said Jack bitterly. "The man who will
wantonly kill a poor brute for sport will think little of murdering a
fellow-creature. Now, boys, we have but one chance left--the Diamond
Cave."
"The Diamond Cave!" cried Peterkin; "then my chance is a poor one, for
I could not dive into it if all the pirates on the Pacific were at my
heels."
"Nay, but," said I, "we will take you down, Peterkin, if you will only
trust us."
As I spoke, we observed the pirates scatter over the beach, and
radiate, as if from a centre, towards the woods and along shore.
"Now, Peterkin," said Jack in a solemn tone, "you must make up your
mind to do it, or we must make up our minds to die in your company.
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