sland, and pay his respects to
the proprietor, whom he had some curiosity to meet. Besides, might he
not chance to learn the true condition of affairs regarding Evaleen
Hale and the objectionable captain?

Rocking on lazy eddies of a sheltered cove lay the piroque. It was a
dugout or canoe, made by hollowing with axe and adz a section of a
cucumber tree. One-fourth of its length was covered with canvas
stretched on hoops, forming a canopy to shed rain and to screen the
passenger from the sun's rays. The cosy shelter was made use of by
Plutarch as a receptacle for "specimens" of all varieties, animal,
vegetable and mineral. The boat was propelled by a paddle, and, as the
owner had warned Arlington, was liable to be toppled over by any
heedless movement of its occupants. In this craft, the distance from
Marietta to the island was measured without accident. Landed on the
gravelly beach, Plutarch bent his steps toward the dazzling white
house, Arlington at his side. Peter Taylor, puttering in the front
yard, greeted the visitors in his saturnine style.

"Which way is the Highcockolorum?" inquired Plutarch, thrusting out
his hand.

The gardener was perplexed.

"I mean your boss. Ah, there he is, with a gun! What's the fraction
now? When I first came to this place his little boy offered to stick a
tin sword through me, and I wonder now if pap means to shoot me!"

"'E couldn't 'it you at ten paces," grumbled the Englishman,
manifesting grim enjoyment. Byle winked in response. Blennerhassett,
leading Dominick by the hand, came to meet them, and Arlington was
courteously received.

"I regret my absence at the time you did us the honor to call. I have
since had a delightful letter from Colonel Burr, who promises to favor
us again. Mrs. Blennerhassett told me every particular of your brief
sojourn here. She was charmed with her guests. I am sorry she happens
to be from home. She has gone to spend the day with friends in
Marietta."

"That's where she was, by gum, the first time I called here," broke in
Byle, whose unconscious temerity Blennerhassett, not being able to
rebuke, had concluded to tolerate. "I have fetched you a lot more
plants and roots, and the spines of that big cat-fish I told you
about. Here's another curiosity--the wing of a queer bird that I
don't know--maybe you will--I shot the fowl flying. I see _you_ own
a rifle!"

"Yes," answered the recluse, placing the piece in Plutarch's hands.
"You are famili