on the table--this including wines of
varied sorts. Although not greatly given to drink, the Chilian skipper
enjoys his glass; and on this occasion takes half-a-dozen--it may be
more. He is desirous of doing honour to his distinguished guests, and
making the entertainment a merry one.

And his amiable effort has success.

In addition to having seen much of the world, he is by birth and
education a gentleman. Although nothing more than the skipper of a
merchant-ship--a South Sea trader at that--as already known, he is not
one of the rude swaggering sort; but a gentle, kind-hearted creature, as
well, if not better, befitted for the boudoir of a lady, than to stir
about among tarred ropes, or face conflicting storm.

So kind and good has he shown himself, that his two fair passengers, in
the short companionship of less than a month, have grown to regard him
with affection; while Don Gregorio looks upon him in the light of a
faithful friend. All three feel sorry they are so soon to part company
with him. It is the only regret that casts a shadow over their spirits,
as they sit conversing around the table so richly furnished for their
gratification.

Eating fragrant fruits, and sipping sweet wines, for the moment they
forget all about the hour of parting; the easier, as they listen to the
tales which he tells to entertain them. He relates strange adventures
he has had, on and around the shores of the great South Sea.

He has had encounters with the fierce Figian; the savage New Caledonian;
both addicted to the horrid habit of anthropophagy. He has been a
spectator to the voluptuous dances of Samoa, and looked upon the
daughters of Otaheite, Owyhee, whose whole life is love.

With stories of the two extremes--symbols of man's supreme happiness,
and his most abject misery--grim cannibals and gay odalisques--he amuses
his guests, long detaining them at the table.

Enthralled by his narration--naive, truthful, in correspondence with the
character of the man--all three listen attentively. The senoritas are
charmed, and, strange to say, more with his accounts of Figi and New
Caledonia, than those relating to Otaheite and Hawaii. For to the
last-named group of islands have gone Edward Crozier and Willie
Cadwallader. There these may meet some of the brown-skinned _bayaderes_
Captain Lantanas so enthusiastically describes--meet, dance with, and
admire them!

But the jealous fancies thus conjured up are fleeting in