n. "Let me see,
there is the `Ruby,' the `Jane and John' the `Lady Alice,' the--"

"Good heavens, sir!" cried Captain Bland, interrupting him. "Were the
people on board ill-treated? Did the ruffians take any of them away, or
did they merely carry off such valuables and stores and provisions as
they could lay hands on?"

"The `Lady Alice' are you speaking of?" asked the captain in a tone
which showed that he did not suppose we were interested in her fate.
"By the bye, though they attacked her they did not succeed in getting on
board, for they were driven off in the most gallant fashion by her crew,
notwithstanding that her captain and several hands were away in a boat,
and it is much feared have been lost."

"Thank heaven," ejaculated Captain Bland. "Blessings on my brave
fellows. I am her captain, sir. Can you tell me where she is? Are my
wife and daughter well?"

"She is safe enough in the port of Payta, I hope, by this time, as we
convoyed her within a few leagues of the harbour, and then stood away in
search of the schooner which has just met her just doom. Your wife and
daughter, to whom I paid a visit on board, were well, and though anxious
about you, persisted in believing that you would be restored to them."

"I knew that they would never give me up for lost. They have been
spared much misery, anxious as they may have been. Thank heaven for
that!" cried my kind friend, grasping the captain's hand. "I am
grateful to you, sir, for the good news you have given me, indeed I am;
and now, with your leave, I'll return on board the `Eagle,' that we may
get to Payta as soon as possible."

Though the captain of the corvette politely pressed us to stop for
dinner, and offered to send for Captain Hake, I was glad that Captain
Bland declined his proposals. Directly we got on board, the boat being
hoisted in, we made sail for Payta, where we shortly arrived. The
appearance of Captain Bland and his boat's crew caused no little
astonishment on board the "Lady Alice," for both officers and men had
given them up for lost. I went into the cabin to break the news to Mrs
Bland and Mary. They guessed at once by my countenance that Captain
Bland had returned. He quickly followed me. "I knew that you would
come back, father. I was sure that God would take care of you,"
exclaimed Mary, as, half-weeping and half-laughing, she clung round his
neck. How blessed it is to possess a perfect confidence in our Heavenly