a tree smoking an
enormously long cigar and making the fumes of the tobacco hang round
beneath the wide brim of his white Panama hat.

"Keeps the flies off," he said, nodding to Brace. "Try one?"

"Thanks, no," said Brace, as he had a whiff of the strong, rank tobacco.
"I'd rather have the flies."

"So would I, Brace," said Sir Humphrey angrily, as they went into the
hotel; "and the smoke too, rather than that man's company. Bah! how he
does annoy me with his inquisitive ways!"

CHAPTER FIVE.

LUGGAGE ABOARD.

Inquisitive ways indeed, for as the evening drew near there was the
American still smoking as he sat in a deck chair watching the crew of
the "Jason" busily getting the packages belonging to the brothers on
board.

Brace had made up his mind to see the luggage and stores placed on board
the brig, which had now been warped alongside one of the wharves; but,
on going out from the hotel and catching sight of the American, he went
back and joined his brother, who was having a long final chat with
Captain Banes.

Consequently, so to speak, the American had a clear course, and he sat
in the deck chair he had borrowed, smoking cigar after cigar, as if,
like a steamer, he could not get on with the simplest thing without
sending up vapour into the hot air.

But he did not sit in silence, for his tongue ran on, and he found
something to say to the second mate, who was superintending the getting
on board of what he called the passengers' "traps," and something else
to every man of the busy crew, who, in consequence of a hint given by
Captain Banes to his first officer, carefully took everything on board
themselves, without invoking any of the black or coolie labour to be
obtained upon the wharf.

"He's a rum one, my lads," said the second mate to the men. "Let him
talk: it pleases him, and it don't do you any harm."

"All right, sir," said one of the sailors: "I don't mind. He's pretty
free with the terbacker."

"What?" said the mate, putting his hand in his pocket and fingering one
of half a dozen cigars lying loose therein: "has he given you some?"

"Yes, sir, a lot: says it's real Virginny."

"Humph!" ejaculated the mate. "Must be pretty well off.--Mind those
chests, my lad. Those are ammunition."

The men went on unloading a rough truck piled up with chests,
portmanteaux, and cases of various kinds, before attacking a second
truck-load, while the American sat lolling back in his chair, smoki