"Surely," said Morton, "they can have no sufficient motive for murdering us in cold blood. But, fresh from another conflict with them, we could not perhaps look for forbearance, if in their power. Against _us_ they cannot now, it seems to me, cherish any feelings so vindictive as you imply." "And suppose it to be so? Suppose that they merely aim at Eiulo's life, without wishing to molest us?" "I don't fear that I shall be misunderstood, if I speak plainly," answered Morton, after a pause. "It seems, from what you have intimated, that for some reason they wish to get Eiulo into their hands; they are his own people, and their leader is his own uncle; have we any right to refuse him to them?" "Why, Morton!" interposed Browne, warmly, "what cold-blooded doctrine is this?" "Have patience, a minute, and hear me out--I cannot bring myself to believe that they actually intend him harm; I think there must be some mistake or misapprehension in regard to this alleged design against his life, utterly improbable as it is in itself." "But Arthur understands all that, far better than you or I," interrupted Browne, once more, "and it is clear that the poor child stands in mortal dread of this man." "I was going to add," resumed Morton, "that even if this danger does exist, it is entirely out of our power to afford him protection against it: we should merely throw away our lives, in a desperate and unprofitable attempt. It may seem unfeeling to talk of giving him up; but will not these people be far more likely to act with cruelty, both towards him and us, after being excited and enraged by a fruitless opposition? I have spoken frankly: but whatever is soberly determined upon, however unwise in my view, I will abide by." "I admit," answered Arthur, "that there is little prospect of success in a conflict with them: but I regard our fate as certain if we submit, and we can but be slain in resisting. I am so fully satisfied of Atollo's designs in respect to him, that I should feel in giving him up, as if I were an accessary to his murder." "Let us rather defend ourselves to the very last extremity," said Browne, earnestly, "if we are so unfortunate as to be found." "If," said Max, with an excited air,--"if I really believed they would kill Eiulo, I should say, never give him up, whatever the consequences may be;--and I do think this Atollo must be an incarnate fiend. I don't believe it will make any difference in their treatment of us whether we resist or not." "O no!" cried Johnny, who had been listening eagerly to this conversation, while Eiulo stood looking wistfully on, as if he knew that it concerned him. "O no! don't give him up to that wicked man. I would fight, myself, if I had my bow and arrows, but they took them away from me: can't we hide ourselves in the banyan tree?--they never will think of looking for us there?"