ted the entertainment of a solitary bachelor on a desert
island? But I must prove that you did me an injustice." He pointed
to a goodly hamper on the beach and to a frail or carpenter's basket
from which half a dozen bottles protruded their necks, topped with
red and green seals. "As proprietor of Mortallone--you will forgive
my laying stress on it--I may surely claim the right to do the
honours. Stay a moment, my good man," he added, as Mr. Goodfellow
made a motion to lift out our own hamper. "Miss Plinlimmon, I
believe, is an admirer of natural scenery, and, if the ladies will
step ashore for a few minutes, there is a waterfall above which may
reward her inspection; not by any means, ma'am, the grandest our
island can show, yet charming in its way and distant but a short five
minutes' walk. Captain Branscome will bear me out, and Harry, too--
yes, Harry, too, if I mistake not, visited it yesterday."

He put out a hand to assist the ladies to disembark, at the same time
hitching back the gun on his bandolier.

"You will excuse my having brought a musket. You have brought your
own, I see. Quite right. I carry it habitually; for, to tell you
the truth, the island contains a few wild boars who dispute
possession with me. A very few--we are not likely to meet with one,
so the ladies may reassure themselves! But, as I was about to say,
with the Captain's permission we will not unload here. Rather, after
visiting the waterfall, I would suggest that we row round to the
eastern side, where, if I may guide you, you will find choice of a
dozen delightful spots for a picnic. In this way, too, we shall
cover more ground and get a more general view of the beauties of the
island, which, as I dare say my friend Harry discovered yesterday, is
somewhat too thickly overgrown for easy travelling."

The man's manner--at once frank, chatty, and easily polite--
completely disconcerted me, and I could see it disconcerted the
Captain. It seemed to reduce the whole expedition to an ordinary
picnic; and (more astonishing yet) the ladies accepted it for that.
They fell in, one on each side of him, as he led the way to the
waterfall, and for a climax Miss Belcher shook out a parasol which
she had been carrying under her arm and spread it above her beaver
hat!

At the waterfall our host surpassed himself. The landscape
hereabouts (he declared) always reminded him of Nicholas Poussin.
He would like Miss Plinlimmon's opinion on t