Schillie.—"Why! my good captain, this island is like a rabbit warren, they can never unearth us if we choose to be moderately careful."
Captain.—"I have no doubt we could hide here for some time, but, with such a lot of young ones all the care in the world on our parts may be upset in a moment by thoughtlessness on theirs. Besides, they won't leave a corner unvisited I feel sure, partly out of revenge, for they are a most spiteful race, and partly from feeling persuaded you are the people so long lost, and for whose recovery such large rewards are offered."
Schillie.—"In that case I imagine they won't harm us."
Captain.—"They might not perhaps have done so at first, but 'they will cut off their nose to spite their face' I am certain; by which I mean they will be so savage at losing their men, and so angered at having been deceived all this time by such a helpless party, that they might murder us all in cold blood on the spur of the moment."
Schillie.—"And that will be very unpleasant as far as I can judge."
Mother.—"I should think we could make some hiding places amongst the caverns, captain."
Captain.—"So we could, Madam, had we time, and if I live but an hour, or for one hundred years, my regret at not having taken the precaution will be the same."
Schillie.—"Give me any orders you like, captain, and they shall be done if possible."
Captain.—"I know they will, I know for certain they will, so now I will tell you all I think, and you shall decide for yourselves. In the first place, have you any doubt but that if the pirates let Mrs. Hargrave go as to where she will come?"
Schillie.—"Like any wild bull she will of course rush to these caverns and expose our hiding places."