thing seen anywhere, save two monstrous
creatures covered with rust-coloured hair--mocking counterfeits of
humanity.

Equally astonished would he be at finding her forecastle abandoned;
sailors' chests with the lids thrown open, and togs lying loose around
them! Nor would it lessen his astonishment to glance into the galley,
and there behold a black man sitting upon its bench, who does not so
much as rise to receive him. Nor yet, descending her cabin-stair, to
see a table profusely spread, at either end guest, alike uncourteous in
keeping their seats, on the laces of both an expression of agonised
despair! And all _this_ might be seen on board the Chilian barque, on
the morning after she was abandoned by her traitorous and piratical
crew, A sad night has it been for the three unfortunates left aboard,
more especially the two constrained to sit at the cabin-table. Both
have bitterest thoughts, enough to fill the cup of their misery to the
brim. A night of anguish for the ex-haciendado. Not because of having
seen his treasure, the bulk of his fortune, borne off before his eyes;
but from the double shriek which, at that same instant, reached him from
the deck, announcing the seizure of things more dear. His daughter and
grand-daughter were then made captive; and, from their cries suddenly
leasing, he dreaded something worse--fearing them stifled by death.
Reminded of an event in Yerba Buena, as also recognising the ruffian who
taunted him, made it the more probable that such had been their fate.
He almost wished it; he would rather that, than a doom too horrible to
think of.

The first mate? He must have been killed too; butchered while
endeavouring to defend them? The unsuspicious captain could not think
of his chief officer having gone against him; and how could Don Gregorio
believe the man so recommended turning traitor?

While they were thus charitably judging him, they received a crushing
response; hearing his voice among the mutineers--not in expostulation,
or opposed, but as if taking part with them! One, Striker, called out
his name, to which he answered; and, soon after, other speeches from his
lips sounded clear through the cabin windows, open on that mild
moonlight night.

Still listening, as they gazed in one another's face with mute
astonishment, they heard a dull thud against the ship's side--the stroke
of a boat-hook as the pinnace was shoved off--then a rattle, as the oars
commence working i