Taking rifles on deck, they went and leaned over the bulwarks, talking, to see the little party land, and Oakum help out the ladies, who walked slowly up with John Studwick towards the trees, while the sailors sat about close to the boat, or threw themselves down upon the sands. "We seem to have been suspicious enough over this affair," said the captain, taking off his cap, so as to let the soft breeze that was now beginning to blow after the heat of the day, fan his brown forehead. "I wonder what has become of the Cuban." "Home by this time, I should say," replied Mr Parkley, while Dutch, with an uneasy feeling creeping over him, leaned there, rifle in hand, watching the shore. "I had my suspicions at first," continued the captain, "and really hardly expected to get out here without some hindrance." "What did you suspect?" said Mr Parkley, lighting a cigar, and handing one to the captain, who lit up in turn. "Anything--nothing. I had got it into my head that this fellow wanted to stop us, and I was prepared to be overhauled by a swift steamer; for a mutiny on board; to find him here first--there, it is always the way; once give your imagination its head, and away it goes." "Well, nothing could have gone better than the trip has since we started, and if it should prove that there is treasure below us here, all we have to do is to dive and get it all." "If the sharks will let you," said the captain. "Well, at first I thought we were completely checkmated, but you saw what Pugh did to-day," he continued, in a low tone. "It's my belief that if obstacles ten times as difficult offer themselves, he would surmount them." They both glanced at Dutch, and then followed his eyes to see that the ladies were gathering flowers, the men fruit and shellfish, and that all on shore looked so peaceful and lovely that the longing came upon them to join the little party. "It is so easy to imagine danger," said the captain; and then, lulled by the peaceful aspect of matters into security, they went on talking in a low tone about the various incidents of the day, while Dutch kept stern watch alone. Meanwhile, John Studwick's jealous fancies passed away as his feet touched the sand, and it was with a thrill of delight that he pointed towards the lovely tropic scene before him. "Flowers, fruit, mossy carpet," he said fervently. "Why, it is really Eden--a paradise. I could live here, I think." There was an inexpressible sadness in his words, and Bessy's eyes filled with tears as she glanced at Hester, for she knew but too well that her brother's days were numbered. Hester's heart was full to overflowing, and these words and her friend's sad look had touched the spring ready to gush forth. It was only by a great effort that she could keep from a hysterical fit of crying, and she was obliged to turn away.