Page 532 - for-the-term-of-his-natural-life

desperate venture—the escape from the wonderful cav-
ern which was at once his shelter and his prison. Piling his
wood together, and succeeding after many efforts, by the
aid of a flint and the ring which yet clung to his ankle, in
lighting a fire, and warming his chilled limbs in its cheering
blaze, he set himself to meditate upon his course of action.
He was safe for the present, and the supply of food that the
rock afforded was amply sufficient to sustain life in him for
many days, but it was impossible that he could remain for
many days concealed. He had no fresh water, and though,
by reason of the soaking he had received, he had hitherto
felt little inconvenience from this cause, the salt and acrid
mussels speedily induced a raging thirst, which he could not
alleviate. It was imperative that within forty-eight hours at
farthest he should be on his way to the peninsula. He re-
membered the little stream into which—in his flight of the
previous night— he had so nearly fallen, and hoped to be
able, under cover of the darkness, to steal round the reef
and reach it unobserved. His desperate scheme was then
to commence. He had to run the gauntlet of the dogs and
guards, gain the peninsula, and await the rescuing vessel. He
confessed to himself that the chances were terribly against
him. If Gabbett and the others had been recaptured—as he
devoutly trusted—the coast would be comparatively clear;
but if they had escaped, he knew Burgess too well to think
that he would give up the chase while hope of re-taking the
absconders remained to him. If indeed all fell out as he had
wished, he had still to sustain life until Blunt found him—
if haply Blunt had not returned, wearied with useless and

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