have studied it, so may be of use to you; let us
go. Which way did you come?"

"Through that thick wood," replied I; "where we wandered a long time;
and I fear we shall have some difficulty in finding our way back."

"You should have taken the precaution to notch the trees as you came,"
said our worthy friend; "without that precaution, you were in danger of
being lost; but we will find my marks, which will lead us to the brook,
and following its course we shall be safe."

"We saw no brook," remarked Fritz.

"There is a brook of excellent water, which you have missed in crossing
the forest; if you had ascended the course of the stream, you would have
reached the hut which contains your dear friends; the brook runs
before it."

Fritz struck his forehead with vexation.

"God orders all for the best," said I to the good priest; "we might not
have met with you; we should have been without Ernest; you might have
sought us all day in vain. Ah! good man, it is under your holy auspices
that our family ought to meet, in order to increase our happiness. Now
please to tell me"--

"But first," interrupted Fritz, "pray tell me how Jack is? He was
wounded, and"--

"Be composed, young man," said the calm man of God; "the wound, which he
confesses he owes to his own imprudence, will have no evil consequences;
the savages had applied some healing herbs to it, but it was necessary
to extract a small ball, an operation which I performed yesterday
evening. Since then he suffers less; and will be soon well, when his
anxiety about you is relieved."

Fritz embraced the kind missionary, entreating his pardon for his
rashness, and adding, "Did my brother talk to you of us, sir?"

"He did," answered his friend; "but I was acquainted with you before;
your mother talked continually of her husband and children. What mingled
pain and delight she felt yesterday evening when the savages brought to
her dear Jack, wounded! I was fortunately in the hut to comfort her, and
assist her beloved boy."

"And dear Francis," said I, "how rejoiced he would be to see his brother
again!"

"Francis," said the missionary, smiling, "will be the protector of you
all. He is the idol of the savages now; an idolatry permitted by
Christianity."

We proceeded through the wood as we conversed, and at last reached the
brook. I had a thousand questions to ask, and was very anxious to know
how my wife and Francis had been brought to this island, and how they
m