IV.
STRANGELY enough, chance once more declared itself in favor of the mate's point of view. The mischief did actually come; and the chosen instrument of it was a handsome young islander, who was one of the sons of the chief.
The Captain had taken a fancy to the sweet-tempered, intelligent lad. Pursuing his studies in the dialect of the island, at leisure hours, he had made the chief's son his tutor, and had instructed the youth in English by way of return. More than a month had passed in this intercourse, and the ship's lading was being rapidly completed--when, in an evil hour, the talk between the two turned on the subject of the Holy Island.
"Does nobody live on the island but the Priest?" the Captain asked.
The chief's son looked round him suspiciously. "Promise me you won't tell anybody!" he began very earnestly.
The Captain gave his promise.