s he was concerning Percival.

He had been making these inquiries one day, and had turned away with his
hand upon Angela's arm, when a burly, red-faced man, with a short, brown
beard, whom Angela had seen once or twice before in the office,
followed, and addressed himself to Rupert.

"Beg pardon: should like to speak to you for a moment, sir, if agreeable
to the lady," he said, touching his cap. "You were asking about the
_Arizona_, wrecked off the Rocas Reef, were you not?"

"Yes, I was," said Vivian, quickly. "Have you any news? Have any
survivors of the crew returned?"

"Can't say I know of any, save John Mason and Terry, the mate," said the
man, shaking his head. He had a bluff, good-natured manner, which Angela
did not dislike; but it seemed somewhat to repel her brother.

"If you have no news," he began in a rather distant tone; but the man
interrupted him with a genial laugh.

"I've got no news, sir, but I've got a suggestion, if you'll allow me to
make it. No concern of mine, of course, but I heard that you had friends
aboard the _Arizona_, and I took an interest in that vessel because she
came to grief at a place which has been the destruction of many a fine
ship, and where I was once wrecked myself."

"You! And how did you escape?" said Angela, eagerly.

"Swam ashore, ma'am," said the man, touching his cap. Then, with a shy
sort of smile, he added:--"What I did, others may have done, for
certain."

"You swam to the reef?" asked Vivian.

"First to the reef and then to the island, sir. There's two islands
inside the reef forming the breakwater. More than once the same thing
has happened. Men had been there before me, and had been fetched away by
passing ships, and men may be there now for aught we know."

"Oh, Rupert!" said Angela, softly.

"How long were you on the island then?" asked Rupert.

"About three weeks, sir. But I have heard of the crew of a ship being
there for as many months--and more. You have to take your chance. I was
lucky. I'm always pretty lucky, for the matter of that."

"Would it be easy to land on the island?"

"There's an opening big enough for boats in the reef. It ain't a very
easy matter to swim the distance. I was only thinking, when I heard you
asking questions, that it was just possible that some of the crew and
passengers might have got ashore, after all, as I did, and turn up when
you're least expecting it. It's a chance, anyway. Good morning, sir."

"Excuse me,"