"My ship is the Superior, bound from Boston to Calcutta; so your destination will be the same. My name is Smith. Do you know the name of this island?"
"I never heard of it before."
"I have taken possession of it in the name of the United States, supposing myself the first discoverer."
"That's all right. To my mind, the Star-Spangled Banner is the best that can wave over it."
"We might offer the captain our boat," suggested Robert.
The offer was made and accepted; and, while the captain and his party returned in one boat, Robert and Bates rowed to the ship in their own, and were soon on the deck of the Superior to their unbounded satisfaction.
"This is something like," said Bates. "The island is well enough, but there's nothing like the deck of a good ship."
"I don't think I wholly agree with you," said Robert, smiling; "but just at present I do. I am glad enough to be here. We may meet Captain Haley at Calcutta," he added, after a pause.
"Likely he'll have got away before we get there."
"I hope not. I should like to meet him face to face, and charge him with his treachery. I don't think he'll be over glad to see me."