legend transformed into vivid life by the genius of the inspired
quadroon. But its extraordinary appositeness to the _Aphrodite's_ quest
suddenly occurred to the young Englishman watching the sunlit isle. He
was startled at the thought, especially when he contrasted his present
condition with his depressed awakening in Brixton five days earlier.
Then he laughed, and a sailor, busily engaged in polishing the glass
front of the wheel-house, followed the direction of his gaze and half
interpreted his daydream.

"It's a bit of a change from the West India Dock Road, ain't it, sir?"
he asked.

Royson agreed with him, and the two conversed a while, but when the man
led the chat round to the probable destination of the yacht, the second
mate's thoughts fell from romance to reality.

"You will be told soon enough where we're bound for," he answered
sharply.

"I'm sorry, sir, if I've said anything I shouldn't," said the other.
"But the chaps forrard made out that there's a bit of a mystery in it,
an' I argied they was talkin' nonsense."

"You were quite right. The owner and a party of ladies will be on board
to-day, and then you will find out our destination."

"Ladies, you say, sir? That settles it. This is no Riff pirates job,
then?"

Royson turned on his heel. So others, as well as Captain Stump, had