What should I say when you were gone ?" "Nothing," cried the prisoner.

"Escape with me.

Come on board, and the lieutenant will listen to what I say, and take you, and we'll make you a regular man-o'-war's-man." "And set me to fight agen my father, and all my old mates ?" "No; you should not do that." "And you'd call me a miserable sneak." "I shouldn't." "Then you'd think I was, and I should know it, so it would be all the same." "Then you will not help me ?" "Can't." "You will not, you mean," said Archy bitterly.

"You'd sooner keep me here to rot in the darkness." "No, I wouldn't, and I'd let you out if I could," cried Ram, with animation.

"I like you, that I do, because you're such a brave chap, and not afraid of any of us.