“Now, lads, before we start listen to my final orders.  If we are discovered as we go past the village, we shall turn off at once and make straight for the camp.  Don’t waste a shot on the blacks.  They are not likely to have time to gather to oppose us, but cut down anyone that gets in your way.  When we are through the village make straight to the farthest hut.  Don’t fire a shot till we have got between that and the next, and then go straight at Carthew and his gang.  If I should fall, Lechmere will take the command.  If he, too, should fall, you are to gather round the ladies and fight your way down to the landing place.  Take Dominique’s advice as to paths and so on.  He and his men know a good deal better than you do—­but remember, the great duty is to take the ladies on board safe.

“The moment you get them there, tell the captain my orders are that you are to man the two boats, row straight at the brigantine, drive the crew overboard and sink her.  Then you are to sail for England with Miss Greendale.  The brigantine must be sunk, for if Carthew gets down there he will fill her with blacks and sail in pursuit; and as there is not much difference in speed between the two boats, she might overtake you if you carried away anything.  You must get rid of her before you sail.

“What have you got there, George?”

“Two stretchers, Major.  Dominique and I have been making them for the last two hours.  We can leave them here, sir, by the side of the path, and pick them up as we come along back.”

A couple of minutes later the party started.  They followed the path down until nearly at the bottom of the hill.  Here the trees grew thinner, and Dominique, who was leading, turned to the right.  They made their way noiselessly through the wood, Dominique taking them a much wider circuit round the village than he himself had made, and bringing them out from the trees at the lower end of the plantation of bananas.

Hitherto they had been walking in single file, but Frank now passed along the order for them to close up.

“Keep together as well as you can,” he said, when they were assembled; “and mind how you pass between the trees.  If you set these big trees waving, it might be noticed at once.”

Very cautiously they stole forward until they reached the edge by the stream.  Frank looked through the trees.  Four white sailors were lying on the ground, smoking, in front of their hut.  Carthew and his companion were stretched in two hammocks hung from the tree under which their hut stood.  Bertha and her maid had retired into their bower.

“Now, lads,” he said, as with his revolver in his right hand he prepared for the rush.  “Don’t cheer, but run silently forward.  The moment they catch sight of us you can give a cheer.

“Now!” and he sprang forward into the stream, which was but ankle deep.

The splash, as the whole party followed him, at once attracted the attention of the sailors; who leaped to their feet with a shout, and ran into their hut, while at the same moment Carthew and his companion sprang from their hammocks, paused for a moment in surprise at the men rushing towards them, and then also ran into their hut, Carthew shouting to the blacks to take to their arms.