A SKETCH IN THE TROPICS. 157 



of a slight dejeuner a la fourchette in the cabin. We 

 will also hope for the pleasure of your company at 

 dinner. Supper you will probably eat at home." 



And so saying, he motioned courteously towards 

 the cabin stairs. The Spaniard looked in the sea- 

 man's face, and read in its decided expression, and in 

 the slight smile of intelligence that played upon it, 

 that he must not hope either to resist or outwit his 

 polite but peremptory entertainer. So, making a 

 virtue of necessity, he descended into the cabin. 



The joy of the refugees at finding themselves thus 

 unexpectedly rescued from the captivity they so 

 much dreaded, may be more easily imagined than 

 described. They remained for some time without 

 uttering a word ; but the tears of the lady, and the 

 looks of heartfelt gratitude of her husband, were the 

 best thanks they could offer their deliverer. 



On went the schooner ; fainter and fainter grew 

 the outline of the land, till at length it sank under 

 the horizon, and nothing was visible but the castle 

 of the Molo and the topmasts of the vessels riding at 

 anchor off the Havannah. They were twenty miles 

 from land, far enough for the safety of the fugitive, 

 and as far as it was prudent for those to come who 

 had to return to port in an open boat. Ready's good- 

 humour and hearty hospitality had reconciled him 

 with the Spaniard, who seemed to have forgotten 

 the trick that had been played him, and the punish- 

 ment he would incur for having allowed himself to 



