“They saw me,” he panted, breathlessly, “and have been hot on my track—I couldn’t dodge them anyhow—quite surrounded. Look here, Master Aleck—you know what it means if they get me—flogging now for escaping! You don’t want me to be took?”
“No, Eben; but—”
“Don’t talk, my lad. I’m hard set. You’re a gentleman, and won’t betray a poor fellow?”
“No, but I won’t help to keep that poor young officer a prisoner.”
“Ah, you’ve found out then—you know where he is?”
“Then it is true that you’ve got him shut up somewhere?”
“Somewhere?” cried the man, sharply, in a hoarse whisper. “Then you haven’t found the place?”
“No,” said Aleck, frankly, “only guessed that he is somewhere hidden, and keeps calling out.”
“Look here, Master Aleck, it is true, and if I swear that as soon as all is safe I’ll help you to set him free and put him where he can get back to his ship, will you swear, too, that you’ll never tell where our stores are?”
“I’m not going to swear anything, Eben.”