am going. It is a large country, and though I may see
thousands of the inhabitants, those you care for may not be among them."

"Massa Ned, if God wish to bring dem to you, He can find de way," said
the black, in a tone of simple faith. "I no say He will do it, but He
can do it, dat I know."

Ned did not forget this conversation with poor Tom, not that he
entertained the slightest hope that he should fall in with his wife or
son; indeed, should he do so, how should he possibly know them? He
determined, however, to ask all the Africans he might meet with where
they came from, and should it appear that they were natives of the part
of the country Tom had described to him, to make more minute inquiries.
He knew as well as Tom that God can bring about whatever He thinks fit;
but he was too well instructed not to know that our Heavenly Father does
not always act as men wish or think best--for that He sees what man in
his blindness does not. No one, except Mary, perhaps, missed Ned more
than did Tom Baraka. Poor Mary! it was her first great trial in life.
She found more difficulty than she had ever done before in learning her
lessons, and she about her daily avocations with a far less elastic step
than was her wont. She was too young, however, to remain long
sorrowful, and was as pleased as ever to accompany Aunt Sally on her
rounds among her poor neighbours.

The travellers reached Portsmouth, and repaired to the "Blue Posts," the
inn at which Mr Pack had been accustomed to put up in his younger days.
Next morning he took the two boys on board the "Ione," which lay
alongside the hulk off the dockyard. Lieutenant Hanson, who had already
joined, received them in a kind manner, which made Charley whisper to
Ned that they were all right, as it was clear that their first
lieutenant was not one of those stiff chaps who look as if they had
swallowed pokers, and he hoped that their commander was of the same
character.

Two days passed rapidly away in visiting the numerous objects of
interest to be seen at Portsmouth. Ned's kit was ready, and his uncle
finally took him on board the "Ione," which had cast off from the hulk,
and was getting ready to go out to Spithead. Ned was introduced to the
commander, who shook his uncle and him by the hand in a friendly way.

"I hope that the ship will be a happy one," said Captain Curtis. "It
will depend much on his messmates and him whether it is so, and they'll
find me ready to