, his
black locks hung in ringlets on either side of a swarthy, hairless face,
and the arms and hands of both, as also their breasts were extensively
tattooed.

Their surprise on beholding Angela and me was almost ludicrous. They might
have been expecting to see a copper-colored cacique dressed in war-paint
and adorned with scalps.

"White! By the piper that played before Moses, white!" muttered the
red-whiskered man. "Who'd ha' thought it! A squaw in petticoats, too, with
a gold chain round her neck! Where the hangmant have we got to?"

"You are English?" I said, quietly.

"Well, I'll be--yes, sir! I'm English, name of Yawl, Bill Yawl, sir, of
the port of Liverpool, at your service. My mate, here, he's a--"

"I'll tell my own tale, if you please, Bill Yawl," interrupted the other
as I thought rather peremptorily. "My name is Kidd, and I'm a native of
Barbadoes in the West Indies, by calling, a mariner, and late second mate
of the brig Sulky Sail, Jones, master, bound from Liverpool to Lima, with
a cargo of hardware and cotton goods."

"And what has become of the Sulky Sail?"

"She went to the bottom, sir, three days ago."

"But there has been no bad weather, lately."

"Not lately. But we made very bad weather rounding the Horn, and the ship
sprang a leak, and though, by throwing cargo overboard, and working hard
at the pumps, we managed to keep her afloat nearly a month; she foundered
at last."

"And are you the only survivors?"

"No, sir; the master and most of the crew got away in the long boat. But
as the ship went down the dinghy was swamped. Bill and me managed to right
her and get aboard again, but the others as was with us got drowned."

"And the long boat?"

"We lost each other in the night, and, having no water, and only a tin of
biscuits, Bill and me made straight for the coast, and landed in the
little cove down below this morning. All we have is what we stand up in.
And we shall feel much obliged if you will kindly give us food and shelter
until such time as we can get away."

On this I assured Mr. Kidd that I was sorry for their misfortune, and
would gladly find them food and lodging, and whatever else they might
require, but as for getting away, I did not see how that was possible,
unless by sea, and in their own dinghy.

"We are very grateful for your kindness, sir; but I don't think we should
much like to make another voyage in the dinghy."

"She ain't seaworthy," growled Yawl, "you'