IturnedseawardunderthedeadcraterknownasDiamondHead。Mywaywasforsometimeundertheshadeofcertainthicketsofgreen，thornytrees，dottedwithhouses。HereI
enjoyedsomepicturesofthenativelife：wide-eyed，nakedchildren，mingledwithpigs；ayouthasleepunderatree；anoldgentlemanspellingthroughglasseshisHawaiianBible；thesomewhatembarrassingspectacleofaladyatherbathinaspring；andtheglimpseofgaudy-colouredgownsinthedeepshadeofthehouses。ThenceIfoundaroadalongthebeachitself，wadinginsand，opposedandbuffetedbythewholeweightoftheTrade：ononehand，theglitteringandsoundingsurf，andthebaylivelywithmanysails；ontheother，precipitous，aridgulliesandsheercliffs，mountingtowardsthecraterandthebluesky。Forallthecompanionshipofskimmingvessels，theplacestruckmewithasenseofsolitude。
TherecameinmyheadwhatIhadbeentoldthedaybeforeatdinner，ofacavernaboveinthebowelsofthevolcano，aplaceonlytobevisitedwiththelightoftorches，atreasure-houseofthebonesofpriestsandwarriors，andclamorouswiththevoiceofanunseenriverpouringseawardthroughthecranniesofthemountain。Atthethought，itwasrevealedtomesuddenly，howthebungalows，andtheFowlers，andthebrightbusytownandcrowdingships，wereallchildrenofyesterday；andforcenturiesbefore，theobscurelifeofthenatives，withitsgloriesandambitions，itsjoysandcrimesandagonies，hadrolledunseen，likethemountainriver，inthatsea-girtplace。NotChaldeaappearedmoreancient，northePyramidsofEgyptmoreabstruse；andIheardtimemeasuredby“thedrumsandtramplings“ofimmemorialconquests，andsawmyselfthecreatureofanhour。OverthebankruptcyofPinkertonandDodd，ofMontanaBlock，S。F。，andtheconscientioustroublesofthejuniorpartner，thespiritofeternitywasseentosmile。
Tothismoodofphilosophicsadness，myexcessesofthenightbeforenodoubtcontributed；formorethingsthanvirtueareattimestheirownreward：butIwasgreatlyhealedatleastofmydistresses。AndwhileIwasyetenjoyingmyabstractedhumour，aturnofthebeachbroughtmeinviewofthesignal-station，withitswatch-houseandflag-staff，perchedontheimmediatemarginofacliff。Thehousewasnewandcleanandbald，andstoodnakedtotheTrades。Thewindbeataboutitinloudsqualls；theseawardwindowsrattledwithoutmercy；
thebreachofthesurfbelowcontributeditsincrementofnoise；
andthefallofmyfootinthenarrowverandahpassedunheardbythosewithin。
ThereweretwoonwhomIthusenteredunexpectedly：thelook-outman，withgrizzledbeard，keenseaman’seyes，andthatbrandonhiscountenancethatcomesofsolitaryliving；andavisitor，anoldish，oratoricalfellow，inthesmarttropicalarrayoftheBritishman-o’-war’sman，perchedonatable，andsmokingacigar。Iwasmadepleasantlywelcome，andwassoonlisteningwithamusementtothesea-lawyer。
“No，ifIhadn’thavebeenbornanEnglishman。”wasoneofhissentiments，“damnme！I’drather’abeenbornaFrenchy！I’dliketoseeanothernationfittoblacktheirboots。”Presentlyafter，hedevelopedhisviewsonhomepoliticswithsimilartrenchancy。“I’dratherbeabrutebeastthanwhatI’dbealiberal。”hesaid。“Carryingbannersandthat！apig’sgotmoresense。Why，lookatourchiefengineer——theydosayhecarriedabannerwithhisown’ands：“HooroarforGladstone！”I
suppose，or“DownwiththeAristocracy！”What’armdoesthearistocracydo？Showmeacountryanygoodwithoutone！NottheStates；why，it’sthe’omeofcorruption！Iknewaman——hewasagoodman，’omeborn——whowassignalquartermasterintheWyandotte。Hetoldmehecouldneverhavegotthereifhehadn’thave’runwiththeboys’——tolditmeasI’mtellingyou。
Now，we’reallBritishsubjectshere——“hewasgoingon。
“IamafraidIamanAmerican。”Isaidapologetically。
Heseemedtheleastbittakenaback，butrecoveredhimself；andwiththereadytactofhisbetters，paidmetheusualBritishcomplimentontheriposte。“Youdon’tsayso！”heexclaimed。
“Well，Igiveyoumywordofhonour，I’dneverhaveguessedit。
Nobodycouldtellitonyou。”saidhe，asthoughitweresomeformofliquor。
Ithankedhim，asIalwaysdo，atthisparticularstage，withhiscompatriots：notsomuchperhapsforthecomplimenttomyselfandmypoorcountry，asfortherevelationwhichiseverfreshtomeofBritannicself-sufficiencyandtaste。AndhewassofarsoftenedbymygratitudeastoaddawordofpraiseontheAmericanmethodoflacingsails。“You’reaheadofusinlacingsails。”hesaid。“Youcansaythatwithaclearconscience。”
“Thankyou。”Ireplied。“Ishallcertainlydoso。”
Atthisrate，wegotalongswimmingly；andwhenIrosetoretracemystepstotheFowlery，heatoncestartedtohisfeetandofferedmethewelcomesolaceofhiscompanyforthereturn。IbelieveIdiscoveredmuchalacrityattheidea，forthecreaturewhoseemedtobeunique，ortorepresentatypelikethatofthedodoentertainedmehugely。Butwhenhehadproducedhishat，IfoundIwasinthewayofmorethanentertainment；forontheribbonIcouldreadthelegend：
“H。M。S。Tempest。”
“Isay。”Ibegan，whenouradieuswerepaid，andwewerescramblingdownthepathfromthelook-out，“itwasyourshipthatpickedupthemenonboardtheFlyingScud，wasn’tit？”
“Youmaysayso。”saidhe。“AndablessedgoodjobfortheFlying-Scuds。It’saGod-forsakenspot，thatMidwayIsland。”
“I’vejustcomefromthere。”saidI。“ItwasIwhoboughtthewreck。”
“Begyourpardon，sir。”criedthesailor：“gen’lem’ninthewhiteschooner？”
“Thesame。”saidI。
Myfriendsaluted，asthoughwewerenow，forthefirsttime，formallyintroduced。
“Ofcourse。”Icontinued，“Iamrathertakenupwiththewholestory；andIwishyouwouldtellmewhatyoucanofhowthemenweresaved。”
“Itwaslikethis。”saidhe。“WehadorderstocallatMidwayaftercastaways，andhadourdistanceprettynighrundownthedaybefore。Westeamedhalf-speedallnight，lookingtomakeitaboutnoon；foroldTootles——begyourpardon，sir——thecaptain——waspreciousscaredoftheplaceatnight。Well，there’snasty，filthycurrentsroundthatMidway；YOUknow，ashasbeenthere；andoneon’emmusthavesetusdown。Leastways，aboutsixbells，whenwehadoughttobeenmilesaway，someoneseesasail，andloandbe’old，therewasthesparsofafull-
riggedbrig！Weraisedherprettyfast，andtheislandafterher；
andmadeoutshewashardaground，cantedonherbilge，andhadherens’nflying，uniondown。Itwasbreaking’ighonthereef，andwelaidwellout，andsentacoupleofboats。Ididn’tgoinneither；onlystoodandlookedon；butitseemstheywasallbadlyscaredandmuddled，anddidn’tknowwhichendwasuppermost。Oneon’emkep’snivellingandwringingofhis’ands；hecomeonboardallofasoplikeamonthlynurse。ThatTrent，hecomefirst，withhis’andinabloodyrag。Iwasnear’emasIamtoyou；andIcouldmakeouthewasalltobits——
’eardhisbreathrattleinhisbloominglungsashecomedowntheladder。Yes，theywasascaredlot，smallblameto’em，I
say！ThenextafterTrent，comehimaswasmate。”
“Goddedaal！”Iexclaimed。
“Andagoodnameforhimtoo。”chuckledtheman-o’-war’sman，whoprobablyconfoundedthewordwithafamiliaroath。
“Agoodnametoo；onlyitweren’this。Hewasagen’lem’nborn，sir，ashadgonemaskewerading。Oneofourofficersknowedhimat’ome，reckoniseshim，stepsup，’oldsouthis’andrightoff，andsayshe：’’Ullo，Norrie，oldchappie！’hesays。Theotherwascomingup，asboldaslookatit；didn’tseemputout——that’swherebloodtells，sir！Well，nosoonerdoeshe’earhisbornnamegivenhim，thanheturnsaswhiteastheDayofJudgment，staresatMr。Sebrightlikehewaslookingataghost，andthenIgiveyoumywordofhonourturnedto，anddoubledupinadeadfaint。’Takehimdowntomyberth，’saysMr。Sebright。’’TispooroldNorrieCarthew，’hesays。”
“Andwhat——whatsortofagentlemanwasthisMr。Carthew？”I
gasped。
“Theward-roomstewardtoldmehewascomeofthebestbloodinEngland。”wasmyfriend’sreply：“Etonand’Arrowbred；——andmighthavebeenabar’net！”
“No，buttolookat？”Icorrectedhim。
“Thesameasyouorme。”wastheuncompromisinganswer：
“notmuchtolookat。Ididn’tknowhewasagen’lem’n；butthen，Ineverseehimcleanedup。”
“Howwasthat？”Icried。“Oyes，Iremember：hewassickallthewayto’Frisco，washenot？”
“Sick，orsorry，orsomething。”returnedmyinformant。“Mybelief，hedidn’thankeraftershowingup。Hekep’close；theward-roomsteward，whattookhismealsin，toldmeheatenex’
tonothing；andhewasfetchedashoreat’Friscoonthequiet。
Herewashowitwas。Itseemshisbrotherhadtookanddied，himashadtheestate。Thisonehadgoneinforhisbeer，bywhatIcouldmakeout；theoldfolksat’omehadturnedrusty；
nooneknewwherehehadgoneto。Herehewas，slavinginamerchantbrig，shipwreckedonMidway，andpackinguphisdudsforalongvoyageinaopenboat。Hecomesonboardourship，andbyGod，hereheisalandedproprietor，andmaybeinParliamentto-morrow！It’snolessthannaturalheshouldkeepdark：sowouldyouandmeinthesamebox。”
“Idaresay。”saidI。“Butyousawmoreoftheothers？”
“Tobesure。”sayshe：“no’arminthemfromwhatIsee。Therewasone’Ardythere：colonialbornhewas，andhadbeenthroughapowerofmoney。Therewasnononsenseabout’Ardy；hehadbeenup，andhehadcomedown，andtookitso。
His’eartwasintherightplace；andhewaswell-informed，andknewFrench；andLatin，Ibelieve，likeanative！Ilikedthat’Ardy；hewasagood-lookingboy，too。”
“Didtheysaymuchaboutthewreck？”Iasked。
“Therewasn’tmuchtosay，Ireckon。”repliedtheman-o’-war’sman。“Itwasallinthepapers。’Ardyusedtoyarnmostaboutthecoinshehadgonethrough；hehadlivedwithbook-makers，andjockeys，andpugs，andactors，andallthat：apreciouslowlot！”addedthisjudiciousperson。“Butit’saboutheremy’orseismoored，andbyyourleaveI’llbegettingahead。”
“Onemoment。”saidI。“IsMr。Sebrightonboard？”
“No，sir，he’sashoreto-day。”saidthesailor。“Itookupabagforhimtothe’otel。”
Withthatweparted。Presentlyaftermyfriendovertookandpassedmeonahiredsteedwhichseemedtoscornitscavalier；
andIwasleftinthedustofhispassage，apreytowhirlingthoughts。ForInowstood，orseemedtostand，ontheimmediatethresholdofthesemysteries。IknewthenameofthemanDickson——hisnamewasCarthew；Iknewwherethemoneycamefromthatopposedusatthesale——itwaspartofCarthew’sinheritance；andinmygalleryofillustrationstothehistoryofthewreck，onemorepicturehung；perhapsthemostdramaticoftheseries。Itshowedmethedeckofawarshipinthatdistantpartofthegreatocean，theofficersandseamenlookingcuriouslyon；andamanofbirthandeducation，whohadbeensailingunderanaliasonatradingbrig，andwasnowrescuedfromdesperateperil，felledlikeanoxbythebaresoundofhisownname。IcouldnotfailtoberemindedofmyownexperienceattheOccidentaltelephone。Theheroofthreestyles，Dickson，Goddedaal，orCarthew，mustbetheownerofalively——oraloaded——conscience，andthereflectionrecalledtomethephotographfoundonboardtheFlyingScud；justsuchaman，Ireasoned，wouldbecapableofjustsuchstartsandcrises，andIinclinedtothinkthatGoddedaalorCarthewwasthemainspringofthemystery。
Onethingwasplain：aslongastheTempestwasinreach，I
mustmaketheacquaintanceofbothSebrightandthedoctor。
Tothisend，IexcusedmyselfwithMr。Fowler，returnedtoHonolulu，andpassedtheremainderofthedayhangingvainlyroundthecoolverandahsofthehotel。Itwasnearnineo’clockatnightbeforeIwasrewarded。
“Thatisthegentlemanyouwereaskingfor。”saidtheclerk。
Ibeheldamanintweeds，ofanincomparablelanguorofdemeanour，andcarryingacanewithgenteeleffort。Fromthename，IhadlookedtofindasortofVikingandyoungrulerofthebattleandthetempest；andIwasthemoredisappointed，andnotalittlealarmed，tocomefacetofacewiththisimpracticabletype。
“IbelieveIhavethepleasureofaddressingLieutenantSebright。”saidI，steppingforward。
“Aw，yes。”repliedthehero；“but，aw！Idawn’tknawyou，doI？”HespokeforalltheworldlikeLordFoppingtonintheoldplay——aproofoftheperennialnatureofman’saffectations。Buthislimpingdialect，Iscorntocontinuetoreproduce。
“Itwaswiththeintentionofmakingmyselfknown，thatIhavetakenthisstep。”saidI，entirelyunabashedforimpudencebegetsinmeitslike——perhapsmyonlymartialattribute。“Wehaveacommonsubjectofinterest，tomeverylively；andI