I turned suddenly round, but the apparition had as suddenly disappeared. It was clear that *** now wished more than ever to end the conference. "I know nothing beyond what I have told you, gentlemen--_he_ pays for every thing like a prince--for his wood, and provisions, and all, down to a nail." I was _now_ noways anxious to prolong the conversation myself. "I don't doubt it, I don't doubt it. Well, old gentleman, good-night. You will send your people early?" "Oh yes, you may be sure of that." And we left the house and proceeded to the beach, as fast, you may be sure, as we decently could, without _running_. We both noticed a dark figure bustle round the corner of the house, as we stepped out on the small plateau on which it stood. Captain Toby hailed the schooner, in no very steady tone, to send the boat ashore instantly--"_instantly_"--and I sat down on a smooth, blue, and apparently wave-rounded stone, that lay imbedded in the beautiful white sand. "So, so, a leaf out of a romance--miracles will never cease," said I to Tooraloo, who was standing a short distance from me, close to the water's edge, looking out anxiously for the boat. "There is the old Midge again, Toby, and my Montego bay friend, Wilson, for a dozen--mind he don't treat us to a second Edition of the Ballahoo, Dear Toby Tooraloo. Why, captain, there is no speaking to you, except in rhyme, that name of yours is so----Hillo! where away--an earthquake? or are the stones alive here? So ho, Tobias--see where I am travelling to, Toby," as the rock on which I sat began to heave beneath me, and to make a strange clappering sort of noise, as if one had been flapping the sand with wet swabs. "Tooraloo, see here--see here--I am bewitched, and going to sea on a shingle stone, as I am a gentleman--I hope it can _swim_ as well as _walk_"--and over I floundered on my back. I had come ashore without my jacket, and, as the skipper picked me up, I felt something warm and slimy flowing down my back. "Why, where is my cruizer, Toby,--and what the deuce can that be so warm and wet between my shoulders?" "A turtle nest--a turtle nest," roared Toby, in great joy,--and so indeed it proved. Accordingly, we collected about two dozen of the eggs, and, if I had only had my senses about me when I capsized, we might have turned over the lady-fish herself, whom I had so unkindly disturbed in the straw, when she moved below me. We got on board without more ado, and having desired the steward to get a light and some food and grog in the cabin, I sent for Lennox, who was busy with the repairs going on aloft, and, as I broke ground very seriously to make my supper, communicated to him what we had seen and heard.