On a rude wooden chair, at a rough unpainted table, a man was seated, with his head resting on his hand, and his eyes fixed intently on a book.

Owing to the distance, and the few leaves and branches that intervened between them and the hut, they could not observe him very distinctly.

But it was evident that he was a large and strong man, a little past the prime of life.

The hair of his head and beard was black and bushy, and streaked with silver-grey.

His face was massive, and of a dark olive complexion, with an expression of sadness on it, strangely mingled with stern gravity.