straw-coloured hair and goatee beard
that was fast changing to white. He appeared to be about fifty years of
age, and was a Yankee from the crown of his hatless head to the soles of
his salt-stiffened boots.

"Thank 'e, strangers," he gasped, as he scrambled in over the bows of
the boat and recovered possession of the bundle that he had flung in
ahead of him. "That's all right. I guess you can shove off now."

"Are you alone, then?" demanded Sir Reginald, as he sent the boat's
engines astern.

"Yes, sirree, I'm as much alone as I ever want to be. I, Silas Barker,
am the sole survivor of the wreck of the fore-and-aft schooner _Amy
Pelham_, of which I was owner and master. My crew consisted of seven
hands besides myself, and every one of 'em is gone to his long home.
How I managed to escape is a solemn mystery; for when the schooner
struck I was knocked down and stunned by the first sea that broke over
her, and I knew no more until I woke up and found myself lyin' on the
shore of that lonely spot, clutchin' the grass with both hands, and the
water washin' up round me and tryin' to claw me off ag'in."

"And when did this happen, Mr Barker?" demanded Mildmay.

"Two days ago," answered Barker. "And I don't mind admittin' to you
gentlemen that they have been the longest two days I ever spent. Seems
to me a good deal nearer like two months. To be two days alone, ashore
in the country, is nothin' more than a mere pleasant change; but to be
two days alone on a bit of earth hardly big enough to build a house
upon--whew! I don't want no more of 'em!"

"And did you see nothing more of any of your crew when you came to
yourself after being washed ashore?" asked Sir Reginald.

"Nary one of 'em," answered Barker. "Sharks got 'em, most likely; and I
only wonder they didn't get me, too. But, I say, mister, what sort of a
steamer do you call this of yourn? Darn my ugly buttons, but she's the
all-firedest queer-lookin' packet that I ever set eyes on. And what may
you be doin' down in these here latitoods?"

"We are yachting, for the benefit of my little daughter's health,"
answered Sir Reginald, briefly, as the boat ranged up alongside the
gangway-ladder, and the baronet waved his not altogether welcome guest
to precede him to the deck, where the rest of the party awaited his
arrival.

"Evenin', ladies and gents," remarked Barker, affably, as he passed in
through the gangway, and gazed about him inquisitively. "Fin