Commodore Junk — page 228: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

PLANS OF ESCAPE, 291 He found that the buccaneers went out but seldom, and that when expeditions were made they would be fairly di- vided. At one time the captain would be in command, at another the lieutenant, so that their settlement was never left unprotected. As far as he could judge, they were about a hundred in number, and great dilapidated chambers in the range of temples and palaces formed admirable barracks and means of defence, such as in time of need could easily be held against attack. But Humphrey’s great idea was escape ; and to accomplish this it seemed to him that his first need was to open up com- munication with his men. This he determined to accomplish, for with the liberty given it seemed to be a very easy thing to walk to some heap of stones at the edge of the forest and there seat himself till he was unobserved, when he could quietly step into the dense thicket, and make his way to where his followers were im- prisoned. He had not long to wait, for it seemed that, after being closely watched for the first few days, the latitude allowed to him was greater. He had but to walk to the edge of the forest and wait, for the opportunity was sure to come. Kasy as it appeared though in theory, it proved less so in performance, and it was not till after several attempts that he felt one day sure of success. It was soon after mid-day, when the great amphitheatre and the grotesquely ornamented ruins with their huge heads and shadowy trees were baking in the sun. The men who were often idling about had sought places where they could indulge in their siesta, and a silence as of the grave had fallen upon the place. | Humphrey Armstrong had walked to a pile of ruins be neath one of the trees, and seated himself upon a huge stone CONNIGlLOOLKS ==)