dim
speck--arrested his attention. Quickly dropping the glass, and as
rapidly rubbing the large lens and carefully adjusting the joints, he
raised it again, as a backwoodsman does his rifle with an Indian for a
mark. For full five minutes the pirate stood as motionless as the crag
beneath him, intently glaring through the tube at the speck in the
distance. At last he let the glass fall at his side, and pulling out his
watch with a jerk, he muttered to himself,

"It is a large and lofty ship; but, should she be a cruiser after me,
she will find the bird flown and the nest empty. Ho, now for action!"

Springing down the precipitous declivity as he spoke, he paused a moment
at a loophole of the vault beneath his dwelling, and puffing his cigar
into a bright coal, he carefully twitched the match-rope which led to
the train, opened the loose strands, and placed the fire to it. Waiting
an instant till he saw the nitre sparkle as it ignited, he moved away
with long, swinging strides toward the sheds. There, glancing through
the now deserted halls the crew had occupied, where quantities of
fagots, and kindling-wood, and barrels of pitch were standing, he
continued on till he came to the quarters of the doctor. The doctor was
standing at the open door on the thatched piazza, looking quietly at the
brigantine, whose sails were loosed, and the vessel hanging by a
sternfast, with her head just abreast the Tiger's Trap.

"Ah! _Monsieur le Docteur_, I have merely called to bid you a final
adieu before I go on board; and as I have a few moments left, and a few
words to say, suppose you walk with me toward the chapel. _Allons!_
there is a suspicious sail off there," waving his glass in the
direction, "and I wish to take a good look at her."

"Doctor," continued Captain Brand, as they reached the little esplanade
facing the graves and church, "you will have no one left here on our
island save our dumb Babette, and the chances are rather remote for your
getting away, without, perhaps, some of the West India fleet should
happen to drop in here, which I do not think probable. I rely, however,
upon your keeping your oath, even if they do come, and not betraying the
secrets you are acquainted with."

The pirate said this in an off-hand, friendly way, as he had his glass
leveled toward the sail he saw in the offing.

"Captain Brand," replied the doctor, "I was deceived in coming here, as
you well know; but I shall religiously keep my o