t a foot deep。 At the thicker end of these saplings he fastened； by a piece of fishing line； a small cross…bar； which swung loosely； like the stick handle which a schoolboy fastens to the string of his pegtop。 Forcing the ends of the saplings thus prepared into the holes； he filled in and stamped down the earth all around them。 The saplings； thus anchored as it were by the cross…pieces of stick； not only stood firm； but resisted all his efforts to withdraw them。 To the thin ends of these saplings he bound tightly； into notches cut in the wood； and secured by a multiplicity of twisting； the catgut springes he had brought from the camping ground。 The saplings were then bent double； and the gutted ends secured in the ground by the same means as that employed to fix the butts。 This was the most difficult part of the business； for it was necessary to discover precisely the amount of pressure that would hold the bent rod without allowing it to escape by reason of this elasticity； and which would yet 〃give〃 to a slight pull on the gut。 After many failures； however； this happy medium was discovered； and Rufus Dawes； concealing his springes by means of twigs； smoothed the disturbed sand with a branch and retired to watch the effect of his labours。 About two hours after he had gone； the goats came to drink。 There were five goats and two kids； and they trotted calmly along the path to the water。 The watcher soon saw that his precautions had been in a manner wasted。 The leading goat marched gravely into the springe； which； catching him round his neck； released the bent rod； and sprang him off his legs into the air。 He uttered a comical bleat； and then hung kicking。 Rufus Dawes； though the success of the scheme was a matter of life and death； burst out laughing at the antics of the beast。 The other goats bounded off at this sudden elevation of their leader； and three more were entrapped at a little distance。 Rufus Dawes now thought it time to secure his prize； though three of the springes were as yet unsprung。 He ran down to the old goat； knife in hand； but before he could reach him the barely…dried catgut gave way； and the old fellow； shaking his head with grotesque dismay； made off at full speed。 The others； however； were secured and killed。 The loss of the springe was not a serious one； for three traps remained unsprung； and before sundown Rufus Dawes had caught four more goats。 Removing with care the catgut that had done such good service； he dragged the carcases to the shore； and proceeded to pack them upon his floats。 He discovered； however； that the weight was too great； and that the water； entering through the loops of the stitching in the hide； had so soaked the rush…grass as to render the floats no longer buoyant。 He was compelled； therefore； to spend two hours in re…stuffing the skin with such material as he could find。 Some light and flock…like seaweed； which the action of the water had swathed after the fashion of haybands along the shore； formed an excellent substitute for grass； and； having bound his bundle of rushes lengthwise； with the goat…skin as a centre…piece； he succeeded in forming a sort of rude canoe； upon which the carcases floated securely。
He had eaten nothing since the morning； and the violence of his exertions had exhausted him。 Still； sustained by the excitement of the task he had set himself； he dismissed with fierce impatience the thought of rest； and dragged his weary limbs along the sand； endeavouring to kill fatigue by further exertion。 The tide was now running in； and he knew it was imperative that he should regain the further shore while the current was in his favour。 To cross from the Pilot Station at low water was impossible。 If he waited until the ebb； he must spend another day on the shore； and he could not afford to lose an hour。 Cutting a long sapling； he fastened to one end of it the floating bundle； and thus guided it to a spot where the beach shelved abruptly into deep water。 It was a clear night； and the risen moon large and low； flung a rippling streak of silver across the sea。 On the other side of the bay all was bathed in a violet haze； which veiled the inlet from which he had started in the morning。 The fire of the exiles； hidden behind a point of rock； cast a red glow into the air。 The ocean breakers rolled in upon the cliffs outside the bar； with a hoarse and threatening murmur； and the rising tide rippled and lapped with treacherous melody along the sand。 He touched the chill water and drew back。 For an instant he determined to wait until the beams of morning should illumine that beautiful but treacherous sea； and then the thought of the helpless child； who was； without doubt； waiting and watching for him on the shore； gave new strength to his wearied frame； and fixing his eyes on the glow that； hovering above the dark tree…line； marked her presence； he pushed the raft before him out into the sea。 The reeds sustained him bravely； but the strength of the current sucked him underneath the water； and for several seconds he feared that he should be compelled to let go his hold。 But his muscles； steeled in the slow fire of convict…labour； withstood this last strain upon them； and； half…suffocated； with bursting chest and paralysed fingers； he preserved his position； until the mass； getting out of the eddies along the shore…line； drifted steadily down the silvery track that led to the settlement。 After a few moments' rest； he set his teeth； and urged his strange canoe towards the shore。 Paddling and pushing； he gradually edged it towards the fire…light； and at last； just when his stiffened limbs refused to obey the impulse of his will； and he began to drift onwards with the onward tide； he felt his feet strike firm ground。 Opening his eyesclosed in the desperation of his last efforts he found himself safe under the lee of the rugged promontory which hid the fire。 It seemed that the waves； tired of persecuting him； had； with disdainful pity； cast him ashore at the goal of his hopes。 Looking back； he for the first time realized the frightful peril he had escaped； and shuddered。 To this shudder succeeded a thrill of triumph。 〃Why had he stayed so long； when escape was so easy？〃 Dragging the carcases above high…water mark； he rounded the little promontory and made for the fire。 The recollection of the night when he had first approached it came upon him； and increased his exultation。 How different a man was he now from then！ Passing up the sand； he saw the stakes which he had directed Frere to cut whiten in the moonshine。 His officer worked for him！ In his own brain alone lay the secret of escape！ HeRufus Dawesthe scarred； degraded 〃prisoner〃； could alone get these three beings back to civilization。 Did he refuse to aid them； they would for ever remain in that prison； where he had so long suffered。 The tables were turnedhe had become a gaoler！ He had gained the fire before the solitary watcher there heard his footsteps； and spread his hands to the blaze in silence。 He felt as Frere would have felt； had their positions been reversed； disdainful of the man who had stopped at home。
Frere； starting； cried； 〃It is you！ Have you succeeded？〃
Rufus Dawes nodded。
〃What！ Did you catch them？〃
〃There are four carcases down by the rocks。 You can have meat for breakfast to…morrow！〃
The child； at the sound of the voice； came running down from the hut。 〃Oh； Mr。 Dawes！ I am so glad！ We were beginning to despairmamma and I。〃
Dawes snatched her from the ground； and bursting into a joyous laugh； swung her into the air。 〃Tell me；〃 he cried； holding up the child with two dripping arms above him； 〃what you will do for me if I bring you and mamma safe home again？〃
〃Give you a free pardon；〃 says Sylvia； 〃and papa shall make you his servant！〃 Frere burst out laughing at this reply； and Dawes； with a choking sensation in his throat； put the child upon the ground and walked away。
This was in truth all he could hope for。 All his scheming； all his courage； all his peril； would but result in the patronage of a great man like Major Vickers。 His heart； big with love； with self…denial； and with hopes of a fair future； would have this flattering unction laid to it。 He had performed a prodigy of skill and daring； and for his reward he was to be made a servant to the creatures he had protected。 Yet what more could a convict expect？ Sylvia saw how deeply her unconscious hand had driven the iron； and ran up to the man she had wounded。 〃And； Mr。 Dawes； remember that I shall love you always。〃 The convict； however； his momentary excitement over； motioned her away； and she saw him stretch himself wearily under the shadow of a rock。
CHAPTER XV。
THE CORACLE。
In the morning； however； Rufus Dawes was first at work； and made no allusion to the scene of the previous evening。 He had already skinned one of the goats； and he directed Frere to set to work upon another。 〃Cut down the rump to the hock； and down the brisket to the knee；〃 he said。 〃I want the hides as square as possible。〃 By dint of hard work they got the four goats skinned； and the entrails cleaned ready for twisting； by breakfast time； and having broiled some of the flesh； made a hearty meal。 Mrs。 Vickers being no better； Dawes went to see her； and seemed to have made friends again with Sylvia； for he came out of the hut with the child's hand in his。 Frere； who was cutting the meat in long strips to dry in the sun； saw this； and it added fresh fuel to the fire in his unreasonable envy and jealousy。 However； he said nothing； for his enemy had not yet shown him how the boat was to be made。 Before midday； however； he was a partner in the secret； which； after all； was a very simple one。
Rufus Dawes took two of the straightest and most tapered of the celery…top pines which Frere had cut on the previous day； and lashed them tightly together； with the butts outwards。 He thus produced a spliced stick about twelve feet long。 About two feet from either end he notched the young tree until he could bend the extremities upwards； and having so bent them； he secured the bent portions in their places by means of lashings of raw hide。 The spliced trees now presented a rude outline of the section of a boat； having