If, by any good fortune, she had thus far succeeded in escaping from Estada and his gang of ruffians, I would learn this fact more surely aboard the _Namur_ than in any other way; and, once assured as to this, could certainly find some means of early escape from the ship.

While, if she was captured and taken aboard, as was most probable, for me to be left behind on shore would mean her total abandonment.

Better any risk of discovery than that.

To be sure I had no plan of action devised, no conception of how a rescue could be effected.

Yet such an opportunity might develop, and my one hope lay in being prepared, and ready.