gotten you since I was on board the
_Hopewell_, off the coast of Patagonia, two years ago."

After I had shaken Captain Hudson by the hand, the young lady, who had
risen from her chair, came forward to greet me, saying, "I remember the
midshipman who paid us a visit, but I should not have recognised you;
yes, yes--I remember your eyes and your features now;" and she smiled
very sweetly.

"I thought I had seen your face before," I heard Mudge saying, as
Captain Hudson was shaking him warmly by the hand.

Our host and hostess now pressed us to sit down to breakfast, but I
could scarcely eat anything for thinking of the information we had to
give them. A word whispered in my ear from Mudge--"Don't say anything
yet"--made me cautious, for he was too wise not to think that it would
be dangerous to communicate such joyful intelligence too suddenly, and
that it was important to break it to the captain first. We had a great
deal to tell about our adventures, however.

Captain Hudson then informed us that soon after we fell in with him the
ship had come across to Sydney, where, on account of Mrs Hudson's
health, he had given up the command, and determined to settle on shore.
Finding an acquaintance who happened to be in Sydney, and who wished to
give up this station, he came on here. "For though so far in advance of
the other settlers," continued Captain Hudson, "I was sure that, by the
proper management of my assigned servants, and by treating the blacks
judiciously, we should be as safe here as near other stations. I have
not been mistaken; and we have already succeeded in partly civilising
several young natives, who seem perfectly happy and contented, and are
ready to perform any light labour to which I put them."

When we told Captain Hudson that the object of our journey was to carry
assistance to our friends, he at once volunteered to do all in his power
to obtain horses, provisions, and trusty men to accompany us back.
"Though I cannot go myself," he said, "I have a friend in the
neighbourhood who will, I am sure, take great pleasure in accompanying
you, and in whom you may thoroughly rely, as few men have travelled more
in the wilds than he has, or are so well able to manage the natives."

I saw the young lady look up at Captain Hudson as he spoke, but what
that look betokened I could not then understand. All this time we were,
of course, burning to tell him that his son was alive; though, had he
known it, he