"Hush, Bart, old friend!" said Jack, softly. "Let her live, then, there; but to me she is dead, and I live to think of her persecutions, and how for two years man has pursued us with his bitter hatred, and hunted us down as if we were savage beasts." "Ay," said Bart, softly; "but isn't it time to take the other road, and get away?" "No," said Jack, fiercely. "Bart, old friend--you are my friend." "Friend!" said Bart, in a reproachful tone. "Yes. I know you are; but once more, if you value my friendship, never speak to me again as you have spoken now." "You're captain, my lad. I'll do what you like." "I know you will. Well, then, do you think I can forgive the treatment we have received? It has been a dog's life, I tell you--the life of a savage dog." "Ay, but we've bit pretty sharp sometimes," said Bart, smiling. "See how we've growed, too. First it was the bit of a canoe thing as you came in up the creek." Jack nodded. "Then we took the cutter." "Yes, Bart." "And with that cutter we took first one ship, and then with that another, always masters, and getting, bit by bit, stout, staunch men." "And savages," said Jack, bitterly. "Well, yes, some on 'em is savage like, specially Mazzard." "Black Mazzard is a ruffianly wretch!" "True, lad; but we've gone on and got better and stronger, till we have under our feet the swiftest schooner as swims the sea, and Commodore Junk's name's known all along the coast." "And hated, and a price set upon his head; and now that he is a prisoner his people turn against him, and his most faithful follower wants to go and leave him in the lurch." "Nay, don't say that, my lad," cried Bart. "We was overmatched, and he was took." "Yes, by his men's cowardice." "Nay; you're cross, my lad," said Bart, unconsciously raising one arm and drawing back the sleeve to readjust a bandage. "Month to-night and the deck was running into the scuppers with blood, half the lads was killed, and t'other half all got a wound. We was obliged to sheer off." "Yes, you coward! you left your captain to his fate." "But I saved the captain's--brother," said Bart, slowly, "or he'd have been shut up in prison along with poor Abel now." "Better so," said the other, fiercely; "and then there'd be an end of a persecuted life." "Better as it is," said Bart, quietly; "but I did save you." "Bart, old lad, don't take any notice of what I say," whispered Jack. "I don't, lad, when you're put out. I never do." "Don't speak to me like that. It maddens me more." "No, it don't, lad. It's only me speaking, and you may hammer me with words all night if it does you good. I don't mind, I'm only Bart." "My true old friend," whispered the other, quickly; "but it's time they were back." "Nay, not yet," said Bart, as the other stood gazing over the side of the schooner toward where a long, low bank of mist seemed to shut out everything beyond. "They've been gone two hours, and it's now four bells."