t roasted for dessert. Not a tin had been opened; and save for the oil and vinegar in the salad, and some green spears of onion which Attwater cultivated and plucked wi

dash of the epicure. For such characters it is softening to eat well; doubly so to have designed and had p

t he might be likened himself, as he lolled at the head of his table, dealing out attentions and innuendoes, and using the v

ch he sat. What Attwater knew, what the captain designed, from which side treachery was to be first expected, these were the ground of his thoughts. There were times when he longed to throw down the table and flee into the night. And even that was debarred him; to do anything, to say an

prime article,' said Huish. "Ow much does

e freight to Valparaiso, and on again,' said Attw

e clerk, relishing the wine and the

twater. 'Help yourself, Mr Whi

and not Whish, sit,' said

inly,' said Attwater. 'I was about to say that I have sti

en what?'

cellent sherry. Why, it seems almost wor

nsciences, and Huish and the captain sat up

hat?' sa

elve shillings,'

out far and wide to find any coherency in these rem

e first white men upon t

think that someone must. The cocoa palms grow all round the island, which is scarce like nature's planting. We found besides, when we landed, an unmistakable cairn upon the beach; use unknown; but probably erected in the hope of gratifying some

our partner, I g

would regret it, if he knew yo

ity 'All, ain't

Trinity 'All was, you would confer

has a native cr

pt ten years, one would suppo

e, and no mistake, but I tell you it wouldn't do for me. Too much of "the old ru

his right hand to call the servants; he made them a sign to stand still, struck the bell with force, and leaned eagerly forward. The note rose clear and strong; it rang out clear and far into the night and over the deserted island; it died into the distance until there onl

silence, during which th

y tales for company. If there SHOULD happen to be anything in folk-lore, Mr Hay? But here comes the claret. One does not offer you Lafitte, captain, becaus

m the spell that had bound him. 'So you mean to tell me now, that you sit h

ell, when there flows out from oneself and everything about one a far more momentous silence? the least b

lights at once, and the Band of 'Ope wil

eg your pardon, captain: Huish not

appeared on the face of Attwater; he smote the bell imperiously, and the two brown natives fell into the attitude of attention and stood mute and trembling. Ther

ey were dark, undersized, and well set up; stepped softly, waited deftly, brought o

your labour from a

not?' answe

t job, I suppose?'

nation, we had to go far and wide and do the best we could. We have gone as far west as the Kingsmills and as far south as Rapa-i

o run them?

them,' sai

of my depth. How was this? Do you m

said Attwater, 'because th

oly terror!' cried the capta

e's best,' s

ll and shut the door on him; and I tell you, this racket of Mr Attwater's takes the cake. In a ship, why, there ain't nothing to it! You've got the law with you, that's what does it. But put me down on this blame' beach alo

s he's sometimes pynted,'

said Attwater. 'One had to be a number of

id Davis. 'Rather li

one way or another, one got it knocked into their heads that

de 'em jump,

, Mr Whish, I made the

admiration; and his eyes drank in the huge proportions of the other with delight. 'You bet you

ou, I'm sure,'

e here?' asked Herrick, breaking

d Attwater

dle that, sir?' crie

ed Attwater. 'it was a case that would have

rapturousl

e stopped him instantly; but made a note of the circumstance. The next day, he was gone from the settlement. There could be nothing more annoying; if the labour took to running away, the fishery was wrecked. There are sixty miles of this island, you see, all in length like the Queen's Highway; the idea of pursuit in such a place was a piece of single-minded childishness, which one did not entertain. Two days later, I made a discovery; it came in upon me with a flash that Sullens had been unjustly punished from beginning to end, and the real culprit throughout had been Obsequiousness. The native who talks, like the woman who hesitates, is lost. You set him talking and lying; and he talks, and lies, and watches your face to see if he has pleased you; till at last, out comes the truth! It came out of Obsequiousness in the regular course. I said nothing to him; I dismissed him; and late as it was, for it was already night, set off to look for Sullens. I had not far to go: about two hundred yards up the island, the moon showed him to me. He was hanging in a cocoa palm - I'm not botanist enough to tell you how - but it's the way, in nine cases out of ten, these natives commit suicide. His tongue was out, poor devil, and the birds had got at him; I spare you details, he was an ugly sight! I gave the business six good hours of thinking in this verandah. My justice had be

been listening attentively, made a con

aid the breat

ter. 'They came to

feet with a shriek and

u monstrous being! Murderer and hypocrite - murderer and hypocrite - murd

'Herrick!' he cried, 'behave yours

face in his hands, choked into a sob, the first of many, which now convulsed

ed,' remarked Attwater, sitting

ain't no drinking man, you see. I- I think I'll

d; but still for some time, as they drew away, his comfortable voice was to be heard soothing

imself to wine (of which he spilled a good deal) with gentlem

ater. 'Well, well, we are left tete-a-t