I thanked him, but declined his offer, preferring to employ my leisure on land in some mineralogical studies. Besides, the _Halbrane_ was to set sail so soon as she had taken in her provisions. "Your captain is in a remarkable hurry!" said Governor Glass. "You think so?" "He is in such haste that his lieutenant does not even talk of buying skins or oil from me." "We require only fresh victuals and fresh water, Mr. Glass." "Very well," replied the Governor, who was rather annoyed, "what the _Halbrane_ will not take other vessels will." Then he resumed,-- "And where is your schooner bound for on leaving us?" "For the Falklands, no doubt, where she can be repaired." "You, sir, are only a passenger, I suppose?" "As you say, Mr. Glass, and I had even intended to remain at Tristan d'Acunha for some weeks. But I have had to relinquish that project." "I am sorry to hear it, sir. We should have been happy to offer you hospitality while awaiting the arrival of another ship." "Such hospitality would have been most valuable to me," I replied, "but unfortunately I cannot avail myself of it." In fact, I had finally resolved not to quit the schooner, but to embark for America from the Falkland Isles without much delay. I felt sure that Captain Len Guy would not refuse to take me to the islands. I informed Mr. Glass of my intention, and he remarked, still in a tone of annoyance,-- "As for your captain, I have not even seen the colour of his hair." "I don't think he has any intention of coming ashore." "Is he ill?" "Not to my knowledge. But it does not concern you, since he has sent his lieutenant to represent him." "Oh, _he's_ a cheerful person! One may extract two words from him occasionally. Fortunately, it is easier to get coin out of his pocket than speech out of his lips." "That's the important thing, Mr. Glass." "You are right, sir--Mr. Jeorling, of Connecticut, I believe?" I assented. "So! I know _your_ name, while I have yet to learn that of the captain of the _Halbrane_." "His name is Guy--Len Guy." "An Englishman?" "Yes--an Englishman." "He might have taken the trouble to pay a visit to a countryman of his, Mr. Jeorling! But stay! I had some dealings formerly with a captain of that name. Guy, Guy--" "William Guy?" I asked, quickly. "Precisely. William Guy." "Who commanded the _Jane_?" "The _Jane_? Yes. The same man." "An English schooner which put in at Tristan d'Acunha eleven years ago?" "Eleven years, Mr. Jeorling. I had been settled in the island where Captain Jeffrey, of the _Berwick_, of London, found me in the year 1824, for full seven years. I perfectly recall this William Guy, as if he were before me. He was a fine, open-hearted fellow, and I sold him a cargo of seal-skins. He had the air of a gentleman, rather proud, but good-natured." "And the _Jane_?"