als now for the next two months
or so, as that is our special business here. When we can capture no
more of those gentry, we'll have plenty of time to attend to the garden;
although, probably, we shall get something out of it ere long, if only a
few radishes--at all events we ought to have some new potatoes by
Christmas, that is if they ripen as rapidly as they have jumped out of
the ground!"

"Fancy, new potatoes at Christmas!" cried Eric. "I wonder what they
would say to that at home in Lubeck?"

"Aye, what!" repeated Fritz; and, in a second, his thoughts were far
away across the rolling Atlantic. His mental eyes could see--as plainly
as if the scene was there before him, now, in that little valley between
the cliffs of the desert isle where the two brothers were--the house in
the Gulden Strasse, with the dear home faces belonging to it. Yes,
there they were in a loving vision, the "little mother," Lorischen, and
Madaleine, not forgetting Gelert or Mouser even; while the old-fashioned
town, with its antique gateway and pillared market platz, and quaint Dom
Kirche and clock of the rolling eyes, seemed moving past in a mental
panorama before him!

Eric recalled him presently to himself by a pertinent inquiry.

"We'll have to see to our boat to hunt the seals in, won't we?" he
asked.

"Yes, certainly," said Fritz, fixing his mind on present things with an
effort. "I hope it's all right!"

"You may make sure of that," answered Eric. "I wasn't going to let any
harm happen to the boat which the good captain so kindly gave us! No.
I have been down to look at and overhaul it every day--keeping water in
it besides, that the seams should not open with the heat and make it
leak."

"Then it is quite seaworthy?"

"Oh, yes, without doubt."

"Well, I tell you what we'll do," said Fritz. "As the exertion will not
compel me to have any walking to speak of, nor interfere with the
strengthening of my poor foot, I vote that we sail round the headland to
the western beach on the other side of the island. We can then see
whether there is any appearance yet of the seals coming to take up their
summer residence here."

"Won't that be jolly!" shouted out Eric. "Why, it is the very thing I
have been longing to do since we went up the cliffs and saw the beach
there from the tableland! I would not speak to you about it, because I
knew, of course, you could not move, and feared that talking of it might
excite you."

"Th