"Now, Alice," said he cheerfully, "do you and Poopy set about spreading our blanket tablecloth, and getting supper laid out.

It is but a poor one,--hard biscuit and water,--but there is plenty of it, and, after all, that is the main thing.

Meanwhile, Corrie and I will saunter along shore and talk over our plans.

Cheer up, my little girl; we will manage to give these pirates the slip somehow or other, you may depend upon it." "Corrie," said Montague, when they were alone.

"I have spoken cheeringly to Alice, because she is a little girl and needs comfort, but you and I know that our case is a desperate one, and it will require all our united wisdom and cleverness to effect oar escape from these rascally pirates." The commander of the Talisman paused, and smiled in spite of himself at the idea of being placed in circumstances that constrained him to hold a consultation, in matters that might involve life and death, with a mere boy! But there was no help for it; besides, to say truth, the extraordinary energy and courage that had been displayed by the lad, combined with a considerable amount of innate sharpness in his character, tended to create a feeling that the consultation might not be altogether without advantage.