rst rising-ground that lay before them, Robin and his
friend received a great disappointment, for, instead of a richly wooded
country, which the coast scenery where they landed had led them to
expect, they found an exceedingly barren region, as far, at least, as
the next ridge in advance.

"No use to go further," said Sam, despondingly; "nothing but barren
rocks and a few scrubby bushes here. Evidently there are no
inhabitants, for it would be almost impossible to live on such a place."

"But it may be better further inland," said Robin. "I can't think that
the pirates would come here for nothing. At all events let us go to the
next ridge."

Without replying, Sam followed Robin, but the next ridge revealed
nothing more hopeful. Indeed the prospect thence was, if possible, more
depressing, for it was seen that the island was small, that its sides
were so steep all round, as far as the eye could reach, that there was
apparently no landing-place except at the spot where they had been
driven on shore. The elevated interior seemed as barren as the
circumference, and no neighbouring island was to be seen in all the wide
field of vision. The only living creatures visible were innumerable
sea-birds which circled round the cliffs, and which, on espying the
intruders, came clamouring overhead, as if to order them angrily away.

"Having come thus far we may as well go to the top and have a look all
round," said Robin, "and see--here is something like a track worn on the
rock." Sam's drooping spirits revived at once. He examined the track
carefully and pronounced it a "human" track. "The sea-gulls could not
make it, Robin. Goats, sheep, and cows cannot live without grass,
therefore it was not made by them. A track is not usually worn on hard
rock by the passage of pirates only once or twice over them. There is
mystery here, Robin. Come on!"

It will be observed that Robin's spirit was more hopeful than that of
his friend, nevertheless Sam being physically more energetic, was, when
not depressed, prone to take the lead. He walked smartly forward
therefore, followed humbly by his friend, and they soon reached what
proved to be the summit of the island.

Here supreme astonishment was the chief ingredient in their feelings,
for they stood on the edge of a slope, at the foot of which, as in a
basin, lay what seemed to be a small cultivated garden in the midst of a
miniature valley covered with trees and shrubs, throu