d, when Sir Reginald appeared. Glancing about
him at his surroundings, he advanced to Mildmay's side as he said--

"Good morning, skipper; glorious morning, isn't it? Where is this spot
that you have brought us to?"

"It is one of the Carolines, without doubt," answered Mildmay; "but
precisely which one I cannot say until I have taken my observations, for
I cannot quite identify it with any laid down on the chart. But,
anyhow, it is an outlying island, and sufficiently far from any of the
usual ship-tracks to give our friend Barker a good wholesome spell of
solitary confinement, to fix upon his memory the evil of his ways,
before he obtains his release. It is amply big enough to support him,
and afford him a sufficiency of exercise; he need never starve with all
these coconut trees to his hand; we can let him have a fishing-line or
two, I suppose, to enable him to provide himself with a change of diet,
and a burning-glass with which to make his fires; and there is a stream
of water--that I take to be fresh--from which he can slake his thirst.
And if you feel disposed to give him to sleep in one of those small
waterproof tents that we have down below, and which we have never yet
had occasion to use, the fellow ought to be able to make himself
exceedingly comfortable, while you will have done quite enough for him
to set your conscience at rest, and a vast deal more than he deserves.
If you like, we can take a run ashore, after breakfast, and have a look
at the place before you definitely decide to land him here."

Mildmay's suggestions were quite in accord with Sir Reginald's own views
on the subject; and when, after breakfast, the whole party landed to
inspect the place, and indulge in a stroll, the island was found to be
so very much better in every way than it had appeared to be, that the
baronet felt he need have no scruples about leaving Barker there.
Accordingly, after luncheon, a tent, half a dozen fishing-lines, a good
lens to serve as a burning-glass, a saw, an axe, and a few other useful
odds and ends, including a small supply of food and groceries--to let
the marooned man down gently, so to speak--were put into the boat; and
Barker was then released from his confinement, conducted up on deck, and
ordered down the side, Sir Reginald and Mildmay following him.

As the boat pushed off and headed for the beach, Barker turned to Sir
Reginald, and said--

"Well, Squire, from the look of things in general, I g