“Second.  He may hev drifted onto a oninhabited island.”

“An oninhabited island?” repeated Captain Corbet.

“Yea.”

“Wal,” said Captain Corbet; after a pause, “I’ve knowed things stranger than that.”

“So hev I.”

“Air thar any isle of the ocean in particular that you happen to hev in your mind’s eye now?”

“Thar air.”

“Which?”

“Ile Haute.”

“Wal, now, railly, I declar—­ef I wan’t thinkin o’ that very spot myself.  An I war thinkin, as I war a comin up the bay, that that thar isle of the ocean was about the only spot belongin to this here bay that hadn’t been heerd from.  An it ain’t onlikely that them shores could a tale onfold that mought astonish some on us.  I shouldn’t wonder a mite.”

“Nor me,” said Bennie, gravely.

“It’s either a timber ship, or a desert island, as you say,—­that’s sartin,” said Captain Corbet, after further thought, speaking with strong emphasis.  “Thar ain’t a mite o’ doubt about it; an which o’ them it is air a very even question.  For my part, I’d as soon bet on one as t’other.”

“I’ve heerd tell o’ several seafarin men that’s got adrift, an lit on that thar isle,” said Bennie, solemnly.

“Wal, so hev I; an though our lad went all the way from Petticoat Jack, yet the currents in thar wandorins to an fro could effectooate that thar pooty mighty quick, an in the course of two or three days it could land him high an dry on them thar sequestrated shores.”

“Do you think there is any chance of it?” asked Bruce, eagerly, directing his question to Bennie.

“Do I think?  Why, sartin,” said Bennie, regarding Bruce’s anxious face with a calm smile.  “Hain’t I ben a expoundin to you the actool facts?”

“Well, then,” cried Bart, starting to his feet, “let’s go at once.”

“Let’s what?” asked Captain Corbet.

“Why, hurry off at once, and get to him as soon as we can.”

“An pray, young sir, how could we get to him by leavin here jest now?”

“Can’t we go straight to Ile Haute?”

“Scacely.  The tide’ll be agin us, an the wind too, till nigh eleven.”

Bart gave a deep sigh.

“But don’t be alarmed.  We’ll go thar next, an as soon as we can.  You see we’ve got to go on into Minas Basin.  Now we want to leave here so as to drop down with the tide, an then drop up with the flood tide into Minas Bay.  I’ve about concluded to wait here till about three in the mornin.  We’ll drop down to the island in about a couple of hours, and’ll hev time to run ashore, look round, and catch the flood tide.”

“Well, you know best,” said Bart, sadly.

“I think that’s the only true an rational idee,” said Bennie.  “I do, railly; an meantime you can all get beds here with me, an you can hev a good bit o’ sleep before startin.”

This conversation took place not long after their arrival.  The company were sitting in the big old kitchen, and Mrs. Bennie was spreading her most generous repast on the table.