"Look here," he said, in a sharp, fierce way. "You're thinking of escaping--listen to this, boy," he added, turning sharply to me, "it will do for you too. Now don't think any more about such a _betise_, doctor," he continued, "for it is of no use. There is no escape for you. If you tried to break out I have men on the watch whose orders are to shoot down any one who tries to get away, and that shooting down means pitching overboard afterwards. It would save me a great deal of trouble, but I don't want any more fighting and killing: I want peace. There, you can think it over. You had better be friends, for it would hurt my feelings to have to set you afloat in an open boat with those brute bullies, Berriman and Brymer. Think it over, man. Your friend, Mr Preddle, is sure to join me, for I can find him a pond or a river in which to keep his fish." He backed out of the cabin, and the door was closed, while as we listened we heard the party move on to Mr Preddle's cabin. I could not resist the temptation of listening, and as I was standing close by the partition, I took a step nearer to the opening I had made, and softly drew aside the bottle I had placed before it. Mr Frewen's lips moved, and I took it that he said "Be careful," so I nodded to him as much as to say "I will," and listened. I could not see through, for Mr Preddle had done as I had--drawn something before his side of the opening, which was so small and in such a dark part of the cabin, that unless searched for it was not likely to be seen. "Well, sir," cried Jarette, "when are you coming on deck again?" "Coming on deck?" said Mr Preddle, wonderingly. "Yes; those fish of yours want seeing to; I had to lift out half-a-dozen this morning with that string ladle of yours." "The little net?" cried Mr Preddle, eagerly. "That was very good of you. How do they all seem?" "As if they wanted their master to come and feed them. They all swam up to the top and put their mouths out of the water; didn't they, Hampton?" "Ay, ay, that's so," growled Bob, "and they all called out, `Wittles, wittles,' in fish, on'y they've got such little voices through being so much in the damp that you couldn't hear 'em." The men laughed, and Mr Preddle joined in, but in a feeble forced way as he said weakly-- "No, no, that was for fresh air. They'll all be dead soon, I'm afraid." "Then why don't you come and attend to 'em?" said Jarette. "May I, Mr Jarette?" cried Mr Preddle, excitedly. "To be sure you may, sir. You've only got to satisfy me that you've thrown over these people here, whom I have been obliged to shut up for violence. Cast in your lot with us, and there you are, quite free; and I'll--come, I'll make you naturalist to my expedition, and one of the chief men of my island."