ay into their
good graces. He seemed much pleased when Carlos invited him to Castle
Kearney.

After the ladies had retired, the gentlemen sat up some time smoking
their havannahs, the Indian taking part in the conversation.

At last we all turned in to our respective quarters, the judge having,
some time before, set us the example. On looking out of the door of the
room I occupied, which opened on to the veranda, I saw the Indian throw
himself into the hammock. In another minute he was apparently fast
asleep.

On awaking early the next morning, the first sound I heard was the voice
of black Rose, little Paul's nurse, uttering exclamations of surprise.
Presently I heard the judge's voice; and on looking out, I saw them
examining, with puzzled looks, the hammock in which the Indian guest had
slept. One of the ropes had apparently been cut, and the hammock had
come to the ground.

"Can anything have happened to him? Where can he have gone to?"
exclaimed our host. "Hunt about, Rose, and see if you can find him
anywhere."

"Me ask Toby," said Rose; "he up early, perhaps he see him."

Toby was the black boy of the establishment, and was a great admirer of
Rose.

I heard the judge walking about the veranda. I dressed as rapidly as I
could, and went out to meet him. He presented, it must be confessed, a
somewhat curious figure habited in his morning costume, a coloured
dressing-gown, with a red night-cap on his head, and spectacles on his
nose, while he looked puzzled and annoyed in the extreme.

"I trust no one has knocked my guest on the head during the night," he
said. "The Indian has gone--vanished--disappeared! I would not have
had it happen on any account!"

"Perhaps he has only gone to stretch his legs, and will return for
breakfast," I observed.

While we were talking, Rose and Toby appeared together, and reported
that they could nowhere find the Indian. The judge then sent off Toby
and two or three other black boys to make inquiries through the village.

In a short time they returned, declaring that no one had seen him, and
that if he had gone, he must have taken himself off during the night.

"I fear the worst then," said our host. "He would not have gone away
without at least paying his respects to me. These Indians are as
ceremonious as the courtiers of an emperor."

We were soon joined by the rest of the party in the veranda, and
Rochford seemed more astonished than any one on hearing