peared in sight--a dark spot upon the bosom
of the water, like some vast sea-bird that had settled down upon the
waves, to rest a moment before resuming its flight.

Presently, as they drew nearer, the dark mass appeared to grow larger,
but still lay buried in sombre silence, with no light nor any visible
object distinguishable through the gloom.

Still drawing nearer, they at length perceived, rising over the tops of
the trees that thickly covered the island, the tall tapering masts and
cross-yards of a ship. It was the schooner they were in search of.

Continuing their course, in a few moments they were able to make out her
hull against the white background of the beach, and then the two cabin
windows in her stern. Through these, lights were shining, that in two
broad bands were flung far over the surface of the water. In the
darkness, the vessel might have been likened to some gigantic whale that
had risen a moment, and was bending its huge eyes to reconnoitre the
surface of the sea.

"We must change our course," muttered Costal. "If the canoe gets under
that light, some sentry on the quarterdeck may see us. We must make a
detour, and approach from the other side."

In saying this the Indian shifted the rudder, and turned the head of the
craft into a new direction, while the rowers still continued to ply
their muffled oars.

The sharks turned at the same time, and kept on after the canoe, as
could be told by the luminous traces left by their viscous bodies in
passing through the water.

Beyond, the surface was sparkling with phosphoric points, as if the sky,
now covered with a uniform drapery of dark clouds, had dropped its
starry mantle upon the sea.

At intervals there came a slight puff of wind, and the water curling
under it glanced more luminously; while an occasional flash of lightning
announced that the clouds above were charged with electricity.

In all these signs Costal recognised the precursors of a storm.

The canoe had now passed far out of sight of the barges, and was
circling around, to get upon the other side of the schooner--still
followed by five of the shining monsters of the deep.

Both Costal and the Captain believed themselves too far distant from the
schooner to be seen by any one aboard when all at once a brilliant light
enveloped the Spanish vessel, revealing her whole outlines from stem to
stern. Those in the canoe had just time to perceive that it was the
blaze of a canno