nd enslaved by the Spaniard, they are
very different, being cruel and treacherous, and ever ready to attack
the whites and destroy them with the poisoned darts which they discharge
from blowpipes, and their poisoned arrows. But, have no fear; the
Indians on yonder island--if indeed there be any--will be of a very
different temper, and quite gentle."

"Indeed, then, I pray that they may be," returned Stukely. "For though
we have been marvellously fortunate, thus far, in the matter of
sickness, there are still too many men in the sick bay for my liking;
and we ought to have every one of them sound and fit for duty again
before we go on with our great adventure. But, look now, what comes
yonder? Surely that is a ship's canvas just beginning to show over the
land there near the southern end of the island?"

Bascomb shaded his eyes with his hand and looked toward where Stukely
pointed. The island was by this time about five miles distant, and the
colours of the vegetation were showing up clearly in the brilliant light
of the tropic day. But beyond it again, and showing over the tree-tops,
there was a faint grey film that was evidently moving, sliding along, as
it were, toward the low point. Even as they looked the filmy grey
object suddenly became a strong white and assumed a definite form as it
emerged from the shadow of a cloud, revealing itself as the upper canvas
of a large ship which had either just got under way from the anchorage
on the lee side of the point, or--and this seemed to be the more likely
of the two--was working up to windward in the smooth water, having
sighted the island on her way to the eastward.

"Iss, sure," agreed Bascomb, relapsing into the Devonshire dialect in
his excitement; "that's a ship, sure enough, moreover a Spaniard at
that, most likely; and, if so, we shall have a fight on our hands afore
long. Do 'e see thicky ship t'other side of the island, yonder, Cap'n
Marshall?" he continued, addressing himself to the Captain, who was on
the poop, conversing earnestly with Messrs. Dyer and Harvey, his
partners in the adventure.

"Ship, sayest thou? Where then?" demanded Marshall, breaking off his
conversation and running forward to the head of the poop ladder.

"Why, there a be, with the sails o' mun just showing over the low
point," answered the master. "She'll be clear of the land in another
minute or two; and then they'll see us as clearly as we see them. She's
a Spaniard, to my