curtains of crimson velvet, fringed with bullion, which could
be drawn when necessary to exclude the too ardent rays of the sun. On
one side of the door in the fore bulkhead stood a very handsome
sideboard of polished satinwood, surmounted by a mirror in a massive
gilt frame worked into the semblance of a ship's cable, and on the other
stood an equally handsome bookcase, well filled with--as we afterwards
ascertained--beautifully bound books--romances, poems, and the like--in
the Spanish language. The after bulkhead was adorned with a very fine
trophy, in the form of a many-rayed star, composed of weapons, such as
swords, pistols, daggers, and axes. The skylight was very large,
occupying nearly half the area of that part of the deck which was over
the cabin, and in the centre of it hung a large and exceedingly handsome
lamp of solid silver, suspended by massive chains of the same metal,
while one end of the skylight was occupied by a barometer hung in
gimbals, and the other by a tell-tale compass. Such an elegant little
apartment naturally demanded that all its appointments should
correspond, and so they did, for the table--which we afterwards found to
be made of solid walnut, polished to the brilliance of a mirror--was
covered with an immaculate tablecloth of snowy damask, upon which
glittered a table equipage of solid silver, cut glass, and dainty
porcelain, with a handsome silver centrepiece filled with recently cut
flowers, apparently gathered no later than the previous day in the
flower-clad forest on the margin of the river which we had just left.

We gasped with amazement--as well we might--at the sight of this little
interior, glowing and sparkling with its evidences of almost palatial
luxury, and seated ourselves in silence, for words completely failed us,
although it is not a very easy matter to reduce a British midshipman to
a condition of speechless astonishment. Nor indeed did we long remain
in that abnormal state, for, after gazing about him for a moment with
open mouth and protruding eyes, Keene burst out with:

"Here, you, San Domingo, you black villain, don't stand there grinning
until the corners of your mouth reach back under your ears, but come
forward and explain yourself. Where did you find all these things, eh?"

"Massa Keene," protested the negro, "it not right dat young gentleum
should call deir faithful servant a `black willain' after him hab work
hard to make um conf'ble and keep um ber