rest of the people, and
that's what I find fault with," observed the skipper.

Jack heartily agreed with the last speaker, and was on the point of
turning round to make inquiries about the _Sarah Jane_, when the
merchant, suspecting that they must have been overheard, drew his
companion aside and left the store. Jack asked Mr Ferong if he could
give him the information he desired; but the Frenchman, shrugging his
shoulders, replied that he knew nothing of the affairs of his customers;
his business was to obtain "his littel wares of de best quality and to
sell dem at de lowest price possible."

In a shore time the carriage appeared, with their carpet-bags strapped
on behind, and covered with a tarpaulin. It was a species of gig, with
a seat in front for the driver, and had two horses, one in the shafts
and the other prancing in comparative freedom, secured by traces to an
outrigger. Away they started at furious speed, and before long were
ascending the side of the magnificent Liguania mountains; now proceeding
along a romantic valley, with a babbling stream on one side; now passing
over a height; now along a level, or but slightly sloping spot for half
a mile or so, but gradually getting higher and higher above the plain.
Sometimes, when exposed to the sun's rays, they found it hot enough; but
frequently they travelled under the long shadow of some gigantic cotton
tree, shooting up into the blue heavens; or beneath a grove of graceful
palms, the tendrils of the yam and granadillos climbing up them, with
fences on either side, covered by numberless creepers, passion-flowers
of varied sizes, and convolvuli of countless descriptions. The whole
country seemed like an assemblage of orchards, composed of orange-trees
in fruit and flower, lemon and citron trees, glossy-leaved star apples;
the avocada, with its huge pear, and the bread fruit-tree bearing still
vaster fruit, and leaves of proportionate size; while beneath them were
seen in abundance the unfailing food of man in tropical climes, the ever
cool, fresh, green plantain; indeed, the strangers felt bewildered amid
the variety of trees, shrubs, and plants which surrounded them.

"A perfect paradise, this," exclaimed Jack, who was not much addicted,
however, thus to express his feelings. "See, the vegetation reaches to
the very summit of the highest mountains."

"Inhabited by no small number of ebon-hued Adams and Eves," observed
Terence, pointing to several palm-