he offing. The
more sanguine at once declared that she was standing towards us, and
that our fears regarding a prolonged stay on the island were groundless;
others thought that she would pass by and leave us to our fate. Every
spyglass was in requisition, and numerous were the surmises as to the
character and nationality of the stranger.

"What if she is an enemy?" observed William.

"She will not find much plunder, at all events," answered Trundle.
"There is nothing like being at the bottom of the hill, so that you
cannot be kicked lower."

"Even an enemy would respect our condition," remarked O'Carroll; "we
have nothing to fear from one, I should hope."

"No, but an enemy would leave us where we are: a friend would carry us
away, or send us assistance," said I. It was dinner-time, and Jacotot
had prepared our messes with his usual skill; but so eager were the
people watching the approaching stranger, that the food was scarcely
touched, except by the children, who of course little knew how much
depended on her character. At length there was no doubt that she was
standing for the island, and the exhibitions of joy and satisfaction
became general among the unfortunate emigrants. They would now be able
to leave the island and reach their land of promise; every countenance
beamed brightly except O'Carroll's. After some time I saw his fall. It
gained a more and more anxious look. He scarcely withdrew the glass
from his eye.

"What do you make her out to be, O'Carroll?" I asked.

"Braithwaite, as I am a living man, she's the _Mignonne_," he answered,
in a hoarse voice, his countenance still further showing the agitation
of his mind: "if that villain La Roche gets hold of me again, he'll not
let me escape with my life. And these poor emigrants to have his
lawless crew come among them,--it will be terrible; better rather that
they had all gone to the bottom in their ill-fated ship with their
drunken captain."

Notwithstanding O'Carroll's opinion, I doubted whether the stranger was
the _Mignonne_, for she was still too far off, I thought, for him to be
certain on the subject. I therefore tried to tranquillise his mind,
wondering that a man so brave, and cool, and collected, as he generally
was, should have such a dread of the French captain.

"I tell you yonder vessel is the _Mignonne_, and if you had been treated
as I was, and had witnessed the scenes I saw enacted on board, you would
not have a less horro