'Myself and Dr Symonds excepted, I should say the only ones,' he returned.

'And yet who can tell?
In the course of the ages someone may have lived here, and we sometimes think that someone must.

The cocoa palms grow all round the island, which is scarce like nature's planting.
We found besides, when we landed, an unmistakable cairn upon the beach; use unknown; but probably erected in the hope of gratifying some mumbo jumbo whose very name is forgotten, by some thick-witted gentry whose very bones are lost.

Then the island (witness the Directory) has been twice reported; and since my tenancy, we have had two wrecks, both derelict.

The rest is conjecture.' 'Dr Symonds is your partner, I guess ?' said Davis.
'A dear fellow, Symonds! How he would regret it, if he knew you had been here!' said Attwater.
''E's on the Trinity 'All, ain't he ?' asked Huish.
'And if you could tell me where the Trinity 'All was, you would confer a favour, Mr Whish!' was the reply.
'I suppose she has a native crew ?' said Davis.
'Since the secret has been kept ten years, one would suppose she had,' replied Attwater.
'Well, now, see 'ere!' said Huish.