“Well, Leonard Hust,” said Charles Bramble, “what has brought yon here so clothed in mystery?  Art well, my good fellow?”

“Yes, very well, master Charles; but I come to tell you that you must get away from this place, for a few days at least.  It is not safe for you.”

“What is in the wind, Leonard, now?  Have the court scented me out?”

“Yes, mister Charles, and your brother Robert has agreed to deliver you up!”

“Has he?” added Charles Bramble, musing.  “I did not expect that.”

“Yes, sir; and I thought I would just slip over here and advise you to get off as quick as possible, for the officers will be over here in an hour or so.”

“Thank you, Leonard.  What is that protruding from your pocket?”

“Pistols, sir.”

“Very good, Leonard, I will borrow them.”

“They are yours, sir, with all my heart.”

“Are they loaded, Leonard?”

“With two slugs each, sir, and as true as a compass.”

These formidable preparations startled Helen, who looked beseechingly towards him whom she loved better than her own life.  She came and placed a hand timidly upon his shoulder, and looked into his face with all the wealth of her heart expressed in her eyes, as she said: 

“Pray, pray, Charles, be cautious, be prudent for my sake, will you not?”

“I will, dearest,” he whispered, as he leaned forward and pressed his lips to her pure white forehead.  “We shall not long be separated—­I feel that we shall not.”

Leonard Hust, who had befriended the younger brother while the two were under the parental roof, still clung to the interest of Charles Bramble.  He had already procured for him a guide—­a negro runner—­who knew the coast perfectly, and with him for a companion, and a small pack of provisions, and well armed, Charles Bramble determined to make his way by land back to Don Leonardo’s factory on the southern coast.  In so doing, he would be able not only to elude all pursuit, but would also be able to further his own pecuniary interest by settling up his affairs with Don Leonardo, and arranging matters as to the property that had been entrusted to him by the owners of the “Sea Witch.”

Charles Bramble awaited impatiently the coming of the guide, until indeed he was afraid that longer delay would expose him to the arrest which he so much desired to avoid, and then telling Leonard that he would hasten forward to the outskirts of the town, where he would await the guide.  Leonard Hust promised to bring him directly, and thus they parted; the younger brother, hastening towards the jungle at the environs of Sierra Leone, at length reached the designated spot, where he quietly awaited the arrival of his guide.  It was quite dark before the expected individual came; but at length he did arrive, and thrusting a note into the hands of the impatient refugee, waited for orders.  Charles opened the paper and read in a rough school-boy hand, that he, Leonard Hast, had intended to come to see him off, but that he could not, and that the bearer was a faithful guide, somewhat eccentric, but reliable.