sed, and they disappeared in the darkness.

I told old Tom, who relieved me.

"There's no harm in that sort of thing," he observed. "If the young
chief takes to singing he will not dream of doing anything worse. Maybe
he'll not break his heart after all, though he may think of Miss Fanny
for many a long day to come."

In the morning the doctor came off again, and pronounced Charles Tilston
very much better. He was able, indeed, to get up and breakfast with us
in the cabin. He expressed his gratitude to Harry for the attention he
had paid him, and especially for the care he had taken of Dick. He then
told us, that on receiving Dick's letter he had immediately set out, by
his father's desire, to bring him home. Wishing to take the shortest
route, he had come over to America, and crossed the continent to San
Francisco; he there found the _Caesar_ on the point of sailing, and had
accordingly taken a passage in her.

"I scarcely expected to reach Sydney," he said. "The skipper was drunk
the greatest part of every day, and sometimes for days together. It was
a mercy that we got even as far as Samoa; and had we not been wrecked, I
had intended to leave the brig, and proceed by some other vessel. Now
that I have found my young brother I do not like to quit him again, but
I am unwilling to deprive you of his services."

"It will give me much pleasure if you will remain on board then," said
Harry. Charles Tilston, greatly to my satisfaction, at once accepted
the invitation; for I had taken a great fancy to him, and was unwilling
also to lose Dick. Harry arranged with him to go on shore to purchase
some clothing and other necessaries at the store, in case his own
portmanteau should not be recovered. The natives had, in the meantime,
been collecting the goods thrown upon the beach from the wrecked vessel,
not one of which was stolen, and bringing them into the town. We at
once went to the place where they were stowed, and among them Charles
Tilston discovered his own portmanteau, which he said professed to be
waterproof. On opening it, he found that no wet had got in. It being
delivered to him on a small payment for salvage, we returned with it on
board. All that morning the calm continued, but in the afternoon, a
breeze springing up, the pilot came off, and agreed to take us out.
Just as the sails were loosed, before we hove up the anchor, Toa came
alongside in his canoe. As was agreed on, Fanny remained below