burst, or alarmed at the terrible
reprisals threatened by Eric, and then, the elder brother bowed his head
again over the unfolded sheets of scented paper lying on his knee that
came from his sweetheart across the sea.

The letter was all that the fondest lover could wish; and, with the
omission of a few endearing terms, Fritz subsequently read it to Eric,
who thereupon relented from his previous resolution and showed him Miss
Celia Brown's note. This, however, contained nothing very remarkable,
after all; unless a postscript, saying that the writer "expected to have
a good time" when the sailor lad returned to Providence, deserves to be
described in Eric's extravagant language.

The schooner's visit having settled their minds, so to speak, the
brother crusoes were able after her departure to devote themselves anew,
with all the greater zest, to what they now considered their regular
work.

As in the previous year, before adventuring beyond their own special
domain, the garden was dug up and replanted; the labour this time, of
course, being far less than on the first occasion, for they had no
longer virgin soil to tackle with as then.

A much larger lot of potatoes were put into the ground, the brothers
having learnt by experience that, after once planting, these useful
"apples of the earth" necessitated little further trouble, one good
hoeing up when the sprouts had appeared above the surface and an
occasional rake over to keep down the weeds being quite sufficient to
make the plot look neat; while, should they have more than they required
for themselves when harvest time came, they could easily store them up
for the use of the _Pilot's Bride_ crew, as a slight return for all
Captain Brown's kindness.

A good crop of cabbages and onions was also provided for; while Eric did
not forget his favourite peas and beans for their next Christmas
banquet.

This task done and things tidied up about the hut, so as to make their
immediate surroundings snug and comfortable, the brothers determined,
the weather being now settled and fair, to have a cruise round the coast
again. They were anxious to find out whether the seals were about yet,
besides wishing to pay another visit to the tableland, which they had
been debarred from exploring since the bonfire had burnt up their ladder
at the beginning of the winter season.

They would, naturally, have made this expedition long before, had the
wind and sea not been so boistero