Where it's coming from as far as I'm concerned, I don't know, for my father is a clergyman, and has as much as he can do to make ends meet, for there are eight of us and I'm the eldest." "It's an awful fix altogether," Jack said.

"And anyhow, we shall lose our ship and get into a frightful row, and, if somebody won't pay our ransom, I suppose they will knock us on the head finally.

The best thing, you know, will be for us to make our escape." "But how on earth are we to do that ?" Hawtry said.

"There are ten of them, and I see a lot of guns piled there." "Oh, I daresay we shall see some chance," Jack said cheerfully.

"We must think it over.