the look-outs and battery, the little island was wrapped in repose.

Captain Brand, however, was as cool as a cucumber; and regardless of
the heat, and indifferent about _siesta_, he drew the curtains of the
saloon, and took some active exercise. First, however, he desired
his faithful Babette to get out some camphor trunks and pack the
contents of his splendid wardrobe. This operation was performed under
the critical eye of Captain Brand himself, to which he personally
lent his aid by stowing away, here and there, his caskets, trinkets,
and treasures--those which had been presented to him by the unfortunate
people who had the ill luck to make his acquaintance on the high seas,
or in midnight forays on shore. Then the captain opened and rummaged
cabinets, bureaus, and bookcases, making liberal presents to his
trusty housekeeper; and, turning from that occupation, he had all his
table furniture spread before him, when he made careful estimates of
the value of the silver, china, and glass. This concluded, Captain
Brand ordered Babette to furnish him a slight repast; and while it was
preparing--the captain taking the precaution to bolt his handmaiden in
her kitchen--he went quietly into his bedroom, and when he came out he
bore heavy burdens in his muscular arms, all of which he laid
conveniently near the trap in the floor. Then letting the hatch swing
softly down, he lowered the heavy articles by the silk rope, as he
had Master Gibbs, though not so suddenly, going down himself as
nimbly as a rat after them. In the vault beneath, Captain Brand struck
a light and set fire to a torch, which blazed out luridly, and illumined
the dark excavation and passages like day. Going slowly on, with his
burden in his arms, by the path by which we traced the padre, he
came to the outer door, which opened into the fissure in the crag; and,
after a vigorous effort, the beam was raised, and he passed out. Once
outside, he felt his way cautiously, stepping clear of the stagnant
pools beneath, and guarding his head from the jagged rocks above; and
then, lighting his way over the stones which had upset the equilibrium
of Don Ricardo, he crept slowly into an aperture on the right.

[Illustration: "HE CREPT FORWARD ON HANDS AND KNEES, THE BLAZING TORCH
LIGHTING UP THE DAMP AND DRIPPING ROCKS."]

No serpents or venomous reptiles disturbed the pirate's progress; for,
though there were plenty of them coiled or crawling near, yet their
instinct p