“Whereabouts is the boat?” whispered Ole to his henchman, as he groped his way down the rocky slopes toward the shore.

“’Bout two hondr’d yards more farder in front,” said Sambo.

“Then I’ll place the men here,” said Ole, turning to the natives, who were following close at his heels.  “Now, boys, remain under cover of this rock till I lead you on to the attack; and, mind what I say to you,—­no killing!  Some of the party are my friends; d’ye understand?  I don’t want to do them a damage; but I do want to prevent their letting off as great a villain, I believe, as ever sailed the ocean under a black flag—­only his was a red one, because of his extreme bloody-mindedness, no doubt, which led him to adopt the color of blood.  We will attack them in the rear; which means, of course, by surprise; though I must confess that style of warfare goes much against the grain with me.  There are just four men, I am told, besides the pirate.  Our first onset will secure the fall of at least two of the party by my own cudgel; and, mark me, lads, I don’t say this in a spirit of boasting.  He would indeed be but a poor warrior who could not fell two men when he took them unawares and in the dark.  No; I feel half ashamed o’ the work; but I suppose it is my duty.  So you see there will be just two men and the pirate left for us to deal with.  Four of you ought to be able to overcome the two men without drawing blood, except, it may be, a little surface fluid.  The remaining nine of us will fall on the pirate captain in a body.  You will easily know him by his great size; and I have no manner of doubt but that he will make himself further known by the weight of his blows.  If I happen to fall, don’t look after me till you have overcome and bound the pirate.  The ropes are all ready, and my man Sambo will carry them.”

Having delivered this address to his followers, who by their “Ho’s” and grins indicated their perfect readiness to do as they were bid, Ole Thorwald left them in ambush, and groped his way down to the beach, accompanied by Sambo.

“Did you bring the chain and padlock.  Sambo?”

“Yis, mass’r.  But you no tink it am berer to take boat away—­pull him out ob sight?”

“No, Sambo; I have thought on that subject already, and have come to the conclusion that it is better to let the boat remain.  You see they have placed it in such a way that as long as daylight lasted it could be seen from the settlement, and even now it is visible at some distance, as you see.  If we were to remove it, they would at once observe that it was gone, and thus be put on their guard.  No, no, Sambo.  I may not be fond of ambushments, but I flatter myself that I have some talent for such matters.”

The master and servant had reached the beach by this time, where they found the boat in the exact position that had been indicated by John Bumpus.  It lay behind a low piece of coral rock, fastened to an iron ring by means of a rope, while the oars lay in readiness on the thwarts.