And that appeared certain, when in answer to Dick Sand, who said to him
in English, "Welcome!" he replied in the same language and without any
accent.

"Welcome yourself, my young friend," said the unknown, advancing toward
the novice, whose hand he pressed.

As to the blacks, he contented himself with making a gesture to them
without speaking to them.

"You are English?" he asked the novice.

"Americans," replied Dick Sand.

"From the South?"

"From the North."

This reply seemed to please the unknown, who shook the novice's hand
more vigorously and this time in very a American manner.

"And may I know, my young friend," he asked, "how you find yourself on
this coast?"

But, at that moment, without waiting till the novice had replied to his
question, the unknown took off his hat and bowed.

Mrs. Weldon had advanced as far as the steep bank, and she then found
herself facing him.