The king had been away once for a year or two, and in Rio de Janeiro had married a Brazilian woman who followed his fortunes to the far-off island.

He was himself a Portuguese and a native of the Azores.

He had sailed in New Bedford whale-ships and had steered a boat.

All this I learned, and more too, before we reached the anchorage.

The sea-breeze, coming in before long, filled the _Spray's_ sails, and the experienced Portuguese mariner piloted her to a safe berth in the bay, where she was moored to a buoy abreast the settlement..