Doubtless for a long time the exiled monarch, pensively ruralizing in Peru, which afforded him a safe asylum in his calamity, watched every arrival from the Encantadas, to hear news of the failure of the Republic, the consequent penitence of the rebels, and his own recall to royalty.  Doubtless he deemed the Republic but a miserable experiment which would soon explode.  But no, the insurgents had confederated themselves into a democracy neither Grecian, Roman, nor American.  Nay, it was no democracy at all, but a permanent Riotocracy, which gloried in having no law but lawlessness.  Great inducements being offered to deserters, their ranks were swelled by accessions of scamps from every ship which touched their shores.  Charles’s Island was proclaimed the asylum of the oppressed of all navies.  Each runaway tar was hailed as a martyr in the cause of freedom, and became immediately installed a ragged citizen of this universal nation.  In vain the captains of absconding seamen strove to regain them.  Their new compatriots were ready to give any number of ornamental eyes in their behalf.  They had few cannon, but their fists were not to be trifled with.  So at last it came to pass that no vessels acquainted with the character of that country durst touch there, however sorely in want of refreshment.  It became Anathema—­a sea Alsatia—­the unassailed lurking-place of all sorts of desperadoes, who in the name of liberty did just what they pleased.  They continually fluctuated in their numbers.  Sailors, deserting ships at other islands, or in boats at sea anywhere in that vicinity, steered for Charles’s Isle, as to their sure home of refuge; while, sated with the life of the isle, numbers from time to time crossed the water to the neighboring ones, and there presenting themselves to strange captains as shipwrecked seamen, often succeeded in getting on board vessels bound to the Spanish coast, and having a compassionate purse made up for them on landing there.

One warm night during my first visit to the group, our ship was floating along in languid stillness, when some one on the forecastle shouted “Light ho!” We looked and saw a beacon burning on some obscure land off the beam.  Our third mate was not intimate with this part of the world.  Going to the captain he said, “Sir, shall I put off in a boat?  These must be shipwrecked men.”

The captain laughed rather grimly, as, shaking his fist towards the beacon, he rapped out an oath, and said—­“No, no, you precious rascals, you don’t juggle one of my boats ashore this blessed night.  You do well, you thieves—­you do benevolently to hoist a light yonder as on a dangerous shoal.  It tempts no wise man to pull off and see what’s the matter, but bids him steer small and keep off shore—­that is Charles’s Island; brace up, Mr. Mate, and keep the light astern.”

* * * * *

SKETCH EIGHTH.

NORFOLK ISLE AND THE CHOLA WIDOW.