im away, either
towards America or Europe, so that he might get into the course of
travel.

One morning, when he had as usual gone up to the lookout and scanned the
sea view far and near, he at last came down to the breakfast-room with
his face quite speaking with inward satisfaction. He had seen a sail,
evidently a large merchantman, and begged Don Leonardo to go up and see
if together they could not make the stranger out more fully. Charles,
himself, thought that she was heavy and evidently steering for the small
bay on which the factory stood. But their curiosity was soon to be
satisfied, for spar after spar gradually became more and more clearly
defined, until at last the deck itself could be seen, and St. George's
cross observed flying saucily in the breeze. The ship was a British
sloop-of-war, and so it proved.

In an hour more, Captain Robert Bramble came on shore, accompanied by
Helen and her mother, with Maud Leonardo. As it afterwards appeared,
Maud desired to be brought back to her father, and the English ship was
but performing its appointed duty in cruising on the coast; while Helen
knowing that Charles had come hither, persuaded her mother that it was
best to sail with Captain Bramble, rather than stop in Sierra Leone
among utter strangers. For on ship-board they were under his care, and
besides, as she admitted to her mother, she had good reason for
supposing that Captain Will Ratlin, for thus the mother knew him still,
was at Bay Salo, as Don Leonardo's factory was called on the coast. Thus
it was that they were once more on this spot.

The brothers met before the collected members of the returning party and
those on the shore, and regarded each other with a stern glance. It was
the only token of recognition which passed between them; but Charles
hastened to Helen's side, and pressing her hand tenderly, looked the
words that he could not speak before others. Mrs. Huntington seemed
overjoyed, too, at joining one whom she felt was a true friend to
herself and daughter, and unhesitatingly evinced this feeling, while
Maud and Captain Robert Bramble walked by themselves filled with bitter
thoughts. Robert had at once presumed as to whither his brother had
escaped, well knowing that he must here have left unsettled business
accounts of great value and importance. He therefore was prepared for
the meeting which took place as we have seen. The Quadroon saw Helen and
Charles thus together, she saw the delight