 It fastened with a ring and three
padlocks, the keys (for greater security) being divided; one to Teach, one to
Ballantrae, and one to the mate, a man called Hammond. Yet I was amazed to see
they were now all in the one hand; and yet more amazed (still looking through my
fingers) to observe Ballantrae and Teach bring up several packets, four of them
in all, very carefully made up, and with a loop for carriage.
    »And now,« says Teach, »let us be going.«
    »One word,« says Ballantrae. »I have discovered there is another man besides
yourself who knows a private path across the swamp; and it seems it is shorter
than yours.«
    Teach cried out, in that case, they were undone.
    »I do not know for that,« says Ballantrae. »For there are several other
circumstances with which I must acquaint you. First of all, there is no bullet
in your pistols, which (if you remember) I was kind enough to load for both of
us this morning. Secondly, as there is some one else who knows a passage, you
must think it highly improbable I should saddle myself with a lunatic like you.
Thirdly, these gentlemen (who need no longer pretend to be asleep) are those of
my party, and will now proceed to gag and bind you to the mast; and when your
men awaken (if they ever do awake after the drugs we have mingled in their
liquor), I am sure they will be so obliging as to deliver you, and you will have
no difficulty, I daresay, to explain the business of the keys.«
    Not a word said Teach, but looked at us like a frightened baby as we gagged
and bound him.
    »Now you see, you moon-calf,« says Ballantrae, »why we made four packets.
Heretofore you have been called Captain Teach, but I think you are now rather
Captain Learn.«
    That was our last word on board the Sarah. We four, with our four packets,
lowered ourselves softly into a skiff, and left that ship behind us as silent as
the grave, only for the moaning of some of the drunkards. There was a fog about
breast-high on the waters; so that Dutton, who knew the passage, must stand on
his feet to direct our rowing; and this, as it forced us to row gently, was the
means of our deliverance. We were yet but a little way from the ship, when it
began
