Jumpin' up, I looked round, and through the trees saw a fire
gleamin' not far off, the light of which showed me the captain and men
tied hand and foot, each to a post, and the savages dancin' round them
like demons. I had scarce looked for a second, when I saw one o' them
go up to the captain flourishing a knife, and before I could wink he
plunged it into his breast, while another yell, like the one that
roused me, rang upon my ear. I didn't wait for more, but bounding up,
went crashing through the bushes into the woods. The black fellows
caught sight of me, however, but not in time to prevent me jumpin' into
the boat, as you know."
Bill seemed to be much exhausted after this recital, and shuddered
frequently during the narrative, so I refrained from continuing the
subject at that time, and endeavoured to draw his mind to other things.
"But now, Bill," said I, "it behoves us to think about the future, and
what course of action we shall pursue. Here we are, on the wide
Pacific, in a well-appointed schooner, which is our own--at least no
one has a better claim to it than we have--and the world lies before
us, Moreover, here comes a breeze, so we must make up our minds which
way to steer."
"Ralph, boy," said my companion; "it matters not to me which way we go.
I fear that my time is short now. Go where you will; I'm content."
"Well then, Bill, I think we had better steer to the Coral Island, and
see what has become of my dear old comrades, Jack and Peterkin.
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