o the company, and at
once joined them, making himself so thoroughly at home with them, and
entering so completely into the spirit of the affair, that he sprang at
a single bound into their best graces, and was vehemently declared by
one and all to be "a real out-and-outer."

The next day found him closeted for a full hour with old Bill Maskell,
after which, to everybody's profound astonishment, the pair left for
London. Only to return next day, however, accompanied by a fine tall
soldierly-looking old man, to whom Bob was speedily introduced, and by
whom he was claimed, to his unqualified amazement, as an only and long-
lost son. Sir Richard Lascelles--for he it was--was indebted to Lance
for this joyous discovery; and it was almost pitiful to witness the poor
old gentleman's efforts to adequately express his gratitude to Evelin
for the totally unexpected restoration of his son to his arms.

Bob, now no longer Bob Legerton but Mr Richard Lascelles, was speedily
transferred to his father's house in London; and, according to the
latest accounts, he is now busy qualifying himself to enter the navy.

Poor old Bill Maskell was in a strangely agitated condition for some
time after the occurrence of these events, being alternately in a state
of the greatest hilarity at Bob's return home, and despondency at the
reflection that henceforth the remainder of their lives must be spent
apart. Sir Richard has, however, done what he could to console the poor
old man by purchasing for him a pretty little cottage and garden in the
most pleasant part of Brightlingsea, supplementing the gift with an
allowance of one hundred and fifty pounds a year for the remainder of
his life.

Some two months or so after the arrival home of the _Petrel_ a notice
appeared in the _Morning Post_ and other papers announcing a double
marriage at Saint George's, Hanover Square; the contracting parties
being respectively Launcelot Evelin and Blanche Lascelles; and Rex
Fortescue and Violet Dudley; there is every reason therefore to suppose
that those four persons are at last perfectly happy.

It has been whispered--in the strictest confidence, of course--that
there is some idea of fitting out an expedition to the South Pacific,
for the purpose of ascertaining whether "Albatross Island" is still in
existence, and, if so, whether there is any possibility of working the
enormously rich gold mine, the strange discovery of which is recorded in
these pages.