ed, clad in sober
Puritan garb, ate serenely on, unconscious of her glances, making use
of both his huge hands in the operation, his little gimlet eyes
twinkling greedily, his head, oddly resembling a cone, blazing like a
fire whenever a ray of sun chanced to fall across it. I noticed he
occasionally stole shy glances at her, nor could I wonder, for, in
spite of fatigue and exposure, Madame remained a winsome sight, to do
the heart of any man good to look upon.

"The Lord God of Hosts be praised; ay! with harps, cymbals, and
instruments of many strings, will I give praise unto His holy name," he
exclaimed fervently, wiping his wide mouth upon his sleeve, while
casting a look of regret over the debris in his front. "Once again
hath He abundantly supplied His elect with that which upbuildeth and
giveth strength to the flesh. Now my bodily requirements have been
duly attended to, it behooves me to minister likewise unto the
spiritual, and then seek repose. Friends, will you not both join with
me at the throne of grace? It hath been said that I possess much
unction in prayer."

"No," I answered, not unwilling to be left alone with Eloise; "you are
welcome to put up petitions in our behalf, but this lady is not of your
faith, while as for myself, I have known little about such matters
since childhood. One thing, however,--if you propose making use of
that bull voice of yours, I advise that you select the farther
extremity of the island for the scene of your devotions, lest you
arouse the Chevalier."

He cast upon me a glance not altogether pleasant, but tramped off
through the bushes without reply, and for several moments we heard the
sturdy rise and fall of his earnest supplications, frequently
interspersed with hearty groans, as of one in all the agony of deep
remorse.

"'Tis an odd fish we've hooked out of the stream," I said, turning my
head toward the dismal sounds. "Yet he has strong arms, and may be of
considerable use, if he will consent to voyage with us."

"I scarcely know what to make of the man," Madame admitted candidly.
"He is unlike any I have ever met. Yet I think he may prove honest and
of good heart, although his exterior is far from attractive."

"And his appetite hardly suggestive of economy," I added.

The bright look I always loved to see leaped into her clear eyes.

"Have you faith his labor will offset his eating?" she replied,
laughing.

"Possibly not; yet it is not labor alone I