shining on the white canvas of a brig in the offing.
That she was the "Lily" I had no doubt, but where was the "Iris"? What
would be Uncle Jack's feelings at not seeing her?

Dick was hoisting up the flag which he had just bent on. The breeze was
from the south-east, which would enable the brig to approach the island
without risk. She was standing on farther to the northward, and I began
to fear that she was not the "Lily" after all. I was expressing my
doubts to Dick, when I found Uncle Jack standing by me with a telescope
to his eye.

"Yes she's the `Lily,' no doubt about it; she'll see our signal before
long, as she will be looking out for us."

In another minute the whole of our party were on foot. I ran in to tell
my father, who insisted on coming out to have a look at the object for
which his eyes had so often ached in vain.

In the meantime our men had lighted a fire, believing that a long pull
would be before them. Fortunate it was that they did so. My father was
not in a fit state to go off without breakfast. The meal was scarcely
over when the brig tacked, and the "Lily's" flag was run up at the
mast-head.

Not a moment was lost in launching the boat. My father was assisted
down to the beach. We waited a few minutes, when the "Lily" hove to.
Our last act was to lower the signal flag, and we then, getting on
board, with hearty strokes pulled away for the brig.

"We have found him, we have found him!" I could not help calling out as
we approached her side.

My father was helped on board, and warmly welcomed by our kind-hearted
captain. Uncle Jack's first inquiry was for the "Iris."

"She's all safe at the Aru islands, where I promised to rejoin her as
soon as I had recovered you," answered Captain Haiselden; "and as she
has received some damage in the gale, she is likely to be detained there
several days."

The only person who looked unhappy was our Papuan guide; but he was
reassured when the captain promised to land him at his own village,
towards which we stood, as soon as the whale boat was dropped astern.

In a couple of hours we were off the mouth of the river, when we once
more pulled off, with the same party which had before landed in the
whale boat.

As we approached, a shout of joy arose from our companions. The cause
was soon explained. One of the first persons we saw standing on the
platform in front of the hut was the lost guide who had, we afterwards
found, made his escap