صفحة 238 من 416

"Pete is back on the schooner and she's gone out to fish. You

needn't worry about them. At the proper time they'll be told you

are safe and unhurt."

Code said nothing for a while. With hands rammed into his pockets

he stood watching the white and blue sea whirl by. In those few

minutes he touched the last depth of failure and despair. For a

brief space he was minded to leap overboard.

He shivered as one with an ague and shook off the deadly

influence of the idea. Had he no more grit? he asked himself. Had

he come this far only to be beaten? Was this insolent young

popinjay to win at last? No! Then he listened, for Nat was

speaking.

"If you give your word of honor not to try and escape you can

have the run of the decks and go anywhere you like on the

schooner. If not, you will be locked up and go home a prisoner."