ch changed," said he, "that
I no longer expect any one thing more than any other."

Immediately after, a white seaman entered the cabin, saluted both Mr.
Kentish and myself, and informed the officer there was a sail in sight,
which was bound to pass us very close, and that Mr. Harland was in doubt
about the colours.

"Being so near the island?" asked Mr. Kentish.

"That was what Mr. Harland said, sir," returned the sailor, with a
scrape.

"Better not, I think," said Mr. Kentish. "My compliments to Mr. Harland;
and if she seem a lively boat, give her the stars and stripes; but if
she be dull, and we can easily outsail her, show John Dutchman. That is
always another word for incivility at sea; so we can disregard a hail or
a flag of distress, without attracting notice."

As soon as the sailor had gone on deck, I turned to the officer in
wonder. "Mr. Kentish, if that be your name," said I, "are you ashamed of
your own colours?"

"Your ladyship refers to the 'Jolly Roger'?" he inquired, with perfect
gravity; and, immediately after, went into peals of laughter. "Pardon
me," said he; "but here for the first time, I recognise your ladyship's
impetuosity." Nor, try as I pleased, could I extract from him any
explanation of this mystery, but only oily and commonplace evasion.

While we were thus occupied, the movement of the _Nemorosa_ gradually
became less violent; its speed at the same time diminished; and
presently after, with a sullen plunge, the anchor was discharged into
the sea. Kentish immediately rose, offered his arm, and conducted me on
deck; where I found we were lying in a roadstead among many low and
rocky islets, hovered about by an innumerable cloud of sea-fowl.
Immediately under our board, a somewhat larger isle was green with
trees, set with a few low buildings and approached by a pier of very
crazy workmanship; and a little inshore of us, a smaller vessel lay at
anchor.

I had scarce time to glance to the four quarters ere a boat was lowered.
I was handed in, Kentish took place beside me, and we pulled briskly to
the pier. A crowd of villainous, armed loiterers, both black and white,
looked on upon our landing; and again the word passed about among the
negroes, and again I was received with prostrations and the same gesture
of the flung-up hand. By this, what with the appearance of these men and
the lawless, seagirt spot in which I found myself, my courage began a
little to decline, and, clinging to t