ressive communication; but I was
entirely willing he should cause the arrest of the fugitives.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

A DISTINGUISHED PASSENGER.

The planter went on deck with me after supper, and we paid our first
visit to the Islander, where we were courteously received by the
Shepards. On our return we went on the hurricane deck to take a look at
the shores, as well as we could see them, for it was almost dark by
this time.

"Who is your father, Captain Garningham, or, if you will forgive me for
it, Captain Alick?" asked the Colonel.

"Major Garningham, formerly of the British army," I replied.

"Yes, yes, I know all that; but what is he?" persisted my new
passenger.

"I don't know that he is anything in particular just now," I answered,
perplexed by the earnestness of Colonel Hungerford. "He is certainly
neither a soldier nor a sailor, a tinker nor a tailor."

"Is he an American?"

"No, sir; he was born in England. His father was Sir Alexander
Garningham, and he is Sir Bent Garningham, Baronet, whose estates and
last residence were at Shalford, Essex."

"I see," said the passenger. "Then he is a baronet."

"He is; but he insists upon dropping his title in this country."

"In my intercourse with him I shall take pleasure in dropping it,"
added the planter. "But, Captain Alick,--excuse me if I am too
familiar."

"I am seldom called by any other name, and I have not the slightest
objection to the name," I interposed.

"As I was going to say, Captain Alick, I am not a little embarrassed by
the situation. You and your associates have rendered me an important
service, and it would afford me very great satisfaction to acknowledge
it. You are the captain of the steamer, and your father is a very
wealthy man."

"He is, sir," I replied; for I wished to leave no doubt in his mind on
this subject.

"Your mate was very efficient. What is he?"

"He is the son of a distinguished ex-governor of one of the States, and
the nephew of----"

"Precisely so; I know his uncle very well. I can do nothing for him.
And your two deckhands?" continued the planter.

"They are the sons of English gentlemen, over here on a vacation, and
their fathers have each an income of over ten thousand pounds a-year,"
I added, quietly.

"Your engineer, whose skill and pluck carried us through the crevasse,
is, I dare say, one of the sons of her Majesty, the Queen of England,"
added the passenger, laughing.

"On the contrary, h