"Say you so ?" cried he, uttering a fierce oath.

"Here, lads, take him by the legs and heave him in,--quick!" The men, who were utterly silenced with surprise at my audacity, advanced, and seized me, and, as they carried me towards the cliff, I congratulated myself not a little on the success of my scheme, for I knew that once in the water I should be safe, and could rejoin Jack and Peterkin in the cave.

But my hopes were suddenly blasted by the captain crying out, "Hold on, lads, hold on.

We'll give him a taste of the thumb- screws before throwing him to the sharks.

Away with him into the boat.
Look alive! the breeze is freshening." The men instantly raised me shoulder high, and, hurrying down the rocks, tossed me into the bottom of the boat, where I lay for some time stunned with the violence of my fall.
On recovering sufficiently to raise myself on my elbow, I perceived that we were already outside the coral reef, and close alongside the schooner, which was of small size and clipper built.