The little ones looked at poor trembling aunt Sib with the greatest admiration, Gatty with envy and jealousy, while Serena, like a true tender-hearted little sister, comforted and kissed her, telling her how gentle, good, and kind she was to everybody, and what a good thing she had done for us, and how, perhaps, this was the identical pirate who had stolen her, and that she was not to be unhappy at what perhaps we might all have to do ere long. And this set us talking upon our plans.
"Don't you think, captain," said Schillie, "we may get off to the ship to-night?"
Captain.—"We must try, Madam. If they should chance to go on board, they will find out how busy we have been there, and they will then take measures to prevent us executing any such plan. But I have lost my right hand in Smart."
Gatty and Oscar.—"Oh, captain, send me for the boat. I can swim like a duck, and it's not a hundred yards from here."
Mother.—"My dear children, the sharks."
Oscar.—"I don't mind them, Mother."
Gatty.—"They will have a good mouthful if they swallow me; and if I am as troublesome inside a shark as you, little Mother, say I sometimes am here, I shall not agree with him at all."
Schillie.—"Now, Gatty, I won't have you running into any danger. I don't mean to say you are not extremely troublesome, but still I have got used to you, and I won't have you expose yourself to any danger."
Captain.—"I think I can manage to make them both of use, and yet without much danger, I trust. I would not have a hair of their precious heads lost."
Gatty flushed up like the setting sun with pleasure; Oscar nodded in approbation, while I said, "Then it is decided, at all events, we get off to-night, if we can."