hored off the
west coast.

A daybreak they moved slowly on, still sounding as they went; and,
rounding the West Point, General Rolleston saw written on the guanoed
rocks in large letters

AN ENGLISH LADY WRECKED HERE.
HASTE TO HER RESCUE.

He and Moreland shook hands; and how their eyes glistened!

Presently there was a stranger inscription still upon the rocks--a rough
outline of the island on an enormous scale, showing the coast-line, the
reefs, the shallow water, and the deep water.

"Ease her! Stop her!"

The captain studied this original chart with his glass, and crept slowly
on for the west passage.

But, warned by the soundings marked on the rock, he did not attempt to go
through the passage, but came to an anchor, and lowered his boat.

The sailors were all on the _qui vive_ to land, but the captain, to their
infinite surprise, told them only three persons would land that
morning--himself, his son, and General Rolleston.

The fact is, this honest captain had got a misgiving, founded on a
general view of human nature. He expected to find the girl with two or
three sailors, one of them united to her by some nautical ceremony, duly
witnessed, but such as a _military_ officer of distinction could hardly
be expected to approve. He got into the boat in a curious state of
delight, dashed with uncomfortable suspense; and they rowed gently for
the west passage.

As for General Rolleston, now it was he needed all his fortitude. Suppose
the lady was not Helen! After all, the chances were against her being
there. Suppose she was dead and buried in that island! Suppose that fatal
disease, with which she had sailed, had been accelerated by hardships,
and Providence permitted him only to receive her last sigh. All these
misgivings crowded on him the moment he drew so near the object which had
looked all brightness so long as it was unattainable. He sat pale and
brave in the boat; but his doubts and fears were greater than his hope.

They rounded Telegraph Point, and in a moment Paradise Bay burst on them,
and Hazel's boat within a hundred yards of them. It was half-tide. They
beached the boat and General Rolleston landed. Captain Moreland grasped
his hand, and said, "Call us if it is all right."

General Rolleston returned the pressure of that honest hand, and marched
up the beach just as if he was going into action.

He came to the boat. It had an awning over the stern, and was clearly
used as a sleeping-