"Kind word? Oh, my lass, my lass, say that you forgive me!" "Forgive you? Yes. But quick, dear, before those men come back." "Tell me, then," said Abel, speaking with his back to the jungle, and his head bent down as if ill, while Bart leaned over him, trembling like a leaf, "tell me how you came to be here." "I came over in a ship to Kingston. Then I went to New Orleans. Then to Honduras. And it was only a fortnight ago that I found you." "But how did you come here?" "I've got a small boat, dear. I asked and asked for months before I could find out where you were. I've been to other plantations, and people have thought me mad; but one day I stumbled across the sailors of a ship that comes here with stores from the station, and I heard them say that there were a number of prisoners working at this place; and at last, after waiting and watching for weeks and weeks, I caught sight of you two, and then it was a month before I could speak to you as I did the other day." "And now you have come," said Abel, bitterly, "I can't even look at you." "But you will escape, dear," said Mary. "Escape!" cried Abel, excitedly. "Steady, lad, steady. 'Member you're ill," growled Bart, glancing toward the nearest sentry, and then holding up the bottle as if to see how much was within. "Yes, escape," said Mary. "I have the boat ready. Can you come now?" "Impossible! We should be overtaken and shot before we had gone a mile." "But you must escape," said Mary. "You must get down here by night." "How?" said Bart, gruffly. "You two must settle that," said Mary, quickly. "I am only a woman; but I have found means to get here with a boat, and I can come again and again till you join me." "Yes," said Abel, decidedly; "we will contrive that." "But is it safe, lass, where you are?" "What do you mean?" "They telled us there was the crocodiles all along that creek, and sharks out beyond, if we tried to run." "Yes," said Mary, calmly, "there are plenty of these creatures about." "Listen," said Abel, quickly, and speaking as decidedly now as his sister. "Can you get here night after night?" "Yes," said Mary. "I have been here every night since I spoke to you last." "Then keep on coming." "Yes," said Mary; "I will till you escape." "You have the boat?" "Yes." "And provisions?" "Yes; a little." "But how do you manage?" "I am fishing if any one sees me; but it is very lonely here. I see nothing but the birds," she added to herself, "and sharks and alligators;" and as she said this she smiled sadly. "Be careful, then," said Abel. "Bart, old lad, we will escape." There was a loud expiration of the breath from the jungle, and Abel continued-- "I must get up and go on work, or they will be back. Mary, once more, you have a boat?" "Yes." "And can come up here and wait?" "Yes." Quick, short, decided answers each time. "Then be cautious. Only come by night."