“But you arn’t reasonable, Master Aleck. My life’s as much to me as another man’s is to him, whether he’s a poor fellow or a gentleman. Now, look here, you know yourself it arn’t safe for me to go out of the cave now, is it?”
“Well, I’m afraid it is not just yet, Eben; but—”
“Wait a minute, Master Aleck. Give a man a chance. Look here; as soon as it’s dark I’ll go up on to the cliff and try and get to my cottage, and as soon as I can get the key I’ll come back and let your orficer here go loose if he’ll swear as he won’t show his people the way down here.”
“No,” cried the midshipman, firmly; “I can’t promise that.”
“Not to get free, squire?” said Eben, grimly.
“N–no, I can’t do that. It’s my duty to help clear out this place. I can’t; don’t ask me. I can’t promise that.”
“Look here,” said Aleck, smiling; “could you lead a party down here?”
The midshipman started, and was silent.
“How did you come down here?”
“Come down? I didn’t come down. I was half stunned, and then thrown into a boat. I can just recollect feeling myself dragged out again, and then I lay sick and giddy, just as if I was in a horrible dream, till I awoke in the darkness to find that I was chained up here.”