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e。 Besides； I'm dead。〃
〃Dead！〃
〃Thought to be so； which is as wellbetter for me； perhaps。 If they don't see your ship； or your boat； you're safe enough。〃
〃I don't like to risk it；〃 said Blunt。 〃It's Life if we're caught。〃
〃It's Death if I'm caught！〃 returned the other； with a sinister laugh。 〃But there's no danger if you are cautious。 No one looks for rats in a terrier's kennel； and there's not a station along the beach from here to Cape Pillar。 Take your vessel out of eye…shot of the Neck； bring the boat up Descent Beach； and the thing's done。〃
〃Well；〃 says Blunt； 〃I'll try it。〃
〃You wouldn't like to stop here till morning？ It is rather lonely；〃 suggested Rex； absolutely making a jest of his late terrors。
Will Staples laughed。 〃You're a bold boy！〃 said he。 〃We'll come at daybreak。〃
〃Have you got the clothes as I directed？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Then good night。 I'll put my fire out； in case somebody else might see it； who wouldn't be as kind as you are。〃
〃Good night。〃
〃Not a word for the Madam；〃 said Staples； when they reached the vessel。
〃Not a word； the ungrateful dog；〃 asserted Blunt； adding； with some heat； 〃That's the way with women。 They'll go through fire and water for a man that doesn't care a snap of his fingers for 'em； but for any poor fellow who risks his neck to pleasure 'em they've nothing but sneers！ I wish I'd never meddled in the business。〃
〃There are no fools like old fools；〃 thought Will Staples； looking back through the darkness at the place where the fire had been； but he did not utter his thoughts aloud。
At eight o'clock the next morning the Pretty Mary stood out to sea with every stitch of canvas set； alow and aloft。 The skipper's fishing had come to an end。 He had caught a shipwrecked seaman； who had been brought on board at daylight； and was then at breakfast in the cabin。 The crew winked at each other when the haggard mariner； attired in garments that seemed remarkably well preserved； mounted the side。 But they； none of them； were in a position to controvert the skipper's statement。
〃Where are we bound for？〃 asked John Rex； smoking Staples's pipe in lingering puffs of delight。 〃I'm entirely in your hands； Blunt。〃
〃My orders are to cruise about the whaling grounds until I meet my consort；〃 returned Blunt sullenly； 〃and put you aboard her。 She'll take you back to Sydney。 I'm victualled for a twelve…months' trip。〃
〃Right！〃 cried Rex； clapping his preserver on the back。 〃I'm bound to get to Sydney somehow； but； as the Philistines are abroad； I may as well tarry in Jericho till my beard be grown。 Don't stare at my Scriptural quotation； Mr。 Staples；〃 he added； inspirited by creature comforts； and secure amid his purchased friends。 〃I assure you that I've had the very best religious instruction。 Indeed； it is chiefly owing to my worthy spiritual pastor and master that I am enabled to smoke this very villainous tobacco of yours at the present moment！〃
CHAPTER XXVII。
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH。
It was not until they had scrambled up the beach to safety that the absconders became fully aware of the loss of another of their companions。 As they stood on the break of the beach； wringing the water from their clothes； Gabbett's small eye； counting their number； missed the stroke oar。
〃Where's Cox？〃
〃The fool fell overboard；〃 said Jemmy Vetch shortly。 〃He never had as much sense in that skull of his as would keep it sound on his shoulders。〃
Gabbett scowled。 〃That's three of us gone；〃 he said； in the tones of a man suffering some personal injury。
They summed up their means of defence against attack。 Sanders and Greenhill had knives。 Gabbett still retained the axe in his belt。 Vetch had dropped his musket at the Neck； and Bodenham and Cornelius were unarmed。
〃Let's have a look at the tucker；〃 said Vetch。
There was but one bag of provisions。 It contained a piece of salt pork； two loaves； and some uncooked potatoes。 Signal Hill station was not rich in edibles。
〃That ain't much；〃 said the Crow； with rueful face。 〃Is it； Gabbett？〃
〃It must do； any way；〃 returned the giant carelessly。
The inspection over； the six proceeded up the shore； and encamped under the lee of a rock。 Bodenham was for lighting a fire； but Vetch； who； by tacit consent； had been chosen leader of the expedition； forbade it； saying that the light might betray them。 〃They'll think we're drowned； and won't pursue us；〃 he said。 So all that night the miserable wretches crouched fireless together。
Morning breaks clear and bright； andfree for the first time in ten years they comprehend that their terrible journey has begun。 〃Where are we to go？ How are we to live？〃 asked Bodenham； scanning the barren bush that stretches to the barren sea。 〃Gabbett； you've been out beforehow's it done？〃
〃We'll make the shepherds' huts； and live on their tucker till we get a change o' clothes；〃 said Gabbett evading the main question。 〃We can follow the coast…line。〃
〃Steady； lads；〃 said prudent Vetch； 〃we must sneak round yon sandhills； and so creep into the scrub。 If they've a good glass at the Neck； they can see us。〃
〃It does seem close；〃 said Bodenham； 〃I could pitch a stone on to the guard…house。 Good…bye； you Bloody Spot！〃 he adds； with sudden rage； shaking his fist vindictively at the Penitentiary； 〃I don't want to see you no more till the Day o' Judgment。〃
Vetch divides the provisions； and they travel all that day until dark night。 The scrub is prickly and dense。 Their clothes are torn； their hands and feet bleeding。 Already they feel out…wearied。 No one pursuing； they light a fire； and sleep。 The second day they come to a sandy spit that runs out into the sea； and find that they have got too far to the eastward； and must follow the shore line to East Bay Neck。 Back through the scrub they drag their heavy feet。 That night they eat the last crumb of the loaf。 The third day at high noonafter some toilsome walkingthey reach a big hill； now called Collins' Mount； and see the upper link of the earring； the isthmus of East Bay Neck； at their feet。 A few rocks are on their right hand； and blue in the lovely distance lies hated Maria Island。 〃We must keep well to the eastward；〃 said Greenhill； 〃or we shall fall in with the settlers and get taken。〃 So； passing the isthmus； they strike into the bush along the shore； and tightening their belts over their gnawing bellies； camp under some low…lying hills。
The fourth day is notable for the indisposition of Bodenham； who is a bad walker； and； falling behind； delays the party by frequent cooees。 Gabbett threatens him with a worse fate than sore feet if he lingers。 Luckily； that evening Greenhill espies a hut； but； not trusting to the friendship of the occupant； they wait until he quits it in the morning； and then send Vetch to forage。 Vetch； secretly congratulating himself on having by his counsel prevented violence； returns bending under half a bag of flour。 〃You'd better carry the flour；〃 said he to Gabbett； 〃and give me the axe。〃 Gabbett eyes him for a while； as if struck by his puny form； but finally gives the axe to his mate Sanders。 That day they creep along cautiously between the sea and the hills； camping at a creek。 Vetch； after much search； finds a handful of berries； and adds them to the main stock。 Half of this handful is eaten at once； the other half reserved for 〃to…morrow〃。 The next day they come to an arm of the sea； and as they struggle northward； Maria Island disappears； and with it all danger from telescopes。 That evening they reach the camping ground by twos and threes； and each wonders between the paroxysms of hunger if his face is as haggard； and his eyes as bloodshot； as those of his neighbour。
On the seventh day； Bodenham says his feet are so bad he can't walk； and Greenhill； with a greedy look at the berries； bids him stay behind。 Being in a very weak condition； he takes his companion at his word； and drops off about noon the next day。 Gabbett； discovering this defection； however； goes back； and in an hour or so appears； driving the wretched creature before him with blows； as a sheep is driven to the shambles。 Greenhill remonstrates at another mouth being thus forced upon the party； but the giant silences him with a hideous glance。 Jemmy Vetch remembers that Greenhill accompanied Gabbett once before； and feels uncomfortable。 He gives hint of his suspicions to Sanders； but Sanders only laughs。 It is horribly evident that there is an understanding among the three。
The ninth sun of their freedom； rising upon sandy and barren hillocks； bristling thick with cruel scrub； sees the six famine…stricken wretches cursing their God； and yet afraid to die。 All around is the fruitless； shadeless； shelterless bush。 Above； the pitiless heaven。 In the distance； the remorseless sea。 Something terrible must happen。 That grey wilderness； arched by grey heaven stooping to grey sea； is a fitting keeper of hideous secrets。 Vetch suggests that Oyster Bay cannot be far to the eastwardthe line of ocean is deceitfully closeand though such a proceeding will take them out of their course； they resolve to make for it。 After hobbling five miles； they seem no nearer than before； and； ni