which they stood, was the honorable East India Company's ship Gladiator,
to which belonged the boat that had conveyed the Earl and his party to
the shore, in the manner before related. She was bound to Rio Janeiro,
from thence to Batavia, and as they had a long passage from the Downs,
Captain Rowland was easily persuaded to allow his distinguished
passenger the long coveted recreation of visiting the small though
beautiful island of Trinidad.

'Rowland is going to make a long tack, this time I guess,' continued the
earl, as they both stood watching the still lessening sails of the huge
Indiaman.

'Suppose, dear uncle, replied Mary Hamilton, 'that this Captain Rowland
should sail away and leave us here upon this remote island.'

'Then you would have a most excellent chance to study nature as it is,'
responded the earl playfully. 'But Rowland would never dare to do any
such foolish thing as that to which you have alluded.'

'It may be so, uncle, but still I must sincerely confess, that there is
something about this Captain Rowland and his general conduct which I by
no means like.'

'Oh, you are too fastidious, dear Mary,' replied the earl, 'for I am
sure that as far as my observation has gone, Captain Rowland has
conducted himself thus far during our voyage, in a very kind and
gentlemanly manner.'

'Your observation has not extended as far as mine, uncle, if it had you
would have noticed the sardonic and sinister expression of this