g how strongly I had disapproved
of everything connected with the original scheme for the appropriation
of the ship and her cargo, they feared that, if I were sent away to
navigate the ship, I should betray them at the first civilised port
arrived at, while without me the ship could not be sent to sea at all.
I gathered this partly from the strenuous efforts that were now being
made to induce me to throw in my lot with the rest of the settlers, and
partly from Grace Hartley, between whom and myself a firm friendship had
steadily grown up, and who, in her turn, had gained a pretty fair
knowledge of the situation from Gurney. But I did not often see her,
for she had been installed as schoolmistress to instruct the young folk
of the settlement; while I, in conjunction with a young fellow named
Meadows, who had served his pupilage with an architect and surveyor in
England, had been set the task of making a detailed survey and plan of
the entire island.

The affairs of the settlement had reached this stage when, on a certain
evening, after all hands had knocked off for the day, Miss Hartley came
to my side as we were leaving the large shed in which all meals were
served, and, after a few casual remarks that gave us time to get out of
earshot of the rest, said:

"I suppose, Mr Troubridge, after tramping about all day in the hot sun,
as you have been, you feel too tired to come for a walk with George and
me?"

"No, indeed I do not!" I answered. "I have grown quite accustomed to
be on my feet all day, and now think nothing of it; indeed, I had it in
my mind to take a stroll in any case. The evening is far too fine and
beautiful to be spent under cover. But, may I ask, have you any special
reason for giving me this invitation?"

"Yes," said Grace, "I have. The fact is, Mr Troubridge, that George is
very anxious to have a chat with you."

"All right," I said. "I shall be very pleased. It is some time now
since Gurney and I have spoken to each other. But do you know what he
wishes to speak to me about? I hope there is nothing wrong."

"No," she said--"no; there is nothing actually wrong. But George will
tell you all about it himself. Do you mind if we go up on to the Head?
It will be delightful up there to-night, and we can talk without much
fear of being overheard. I told George we would go there, and he will
follow us."

And so he did, overtaking us about halfway up the rise.

"I must apologise, Mr Troubri