. He expressed but little surprise at seeing them; for, as
he told them, he made sure that sooner or later they would arrive,
and had given orders that, upon the division of the great sums
which had been gained by the Golden Hind on her voyage, their
shares should be scrupulously set aside.

"You had twice before," he said to Ned, "appeared after we had all
given you up as dead; and I could not believe that the four of you,
together, could all have succumbed.

"We got off the reef the next day, shifting her cargo all upon one
side and hoisting some sail, so that the wind bore her down, her
keel lifted from the reef upon which she had fastened, and without
damage she went into deep water. We spent four days in looking for
you. We landed at the island to which you had been directed, and
searched it thoroughly. We then went to an island further to the
south, and spent three days in cruising round its shores. We landed
and captured some natives, but could not learn from them that they
had seen any traces of you, whatever. Most on board conceived that
the canoe must have upset, and that you must have been drowned; but
I never believed this, and felt convinced that, from some unknown
reason, you had been unable to return to the ship, but that sooner
or later you would arrive.

"From that point all went well with us. We had a rapid voyage down
to the Cape, and coasted along it at a short distance. The weather
was fair, and we turned our head north without loss of time; and
so, by the help of Providence, and a fair wind, we made our course
to England, where our gracious sovereign has been pleased to
express her approval of our doings.

"I told her something of your journey across the south of the
American continent, and she was pleased to express her sorrow at
the loss of such gallant and promising gentlemen. I am sure that
her majesty will receive, with pleasure, the news of your return.

"Now, tell me all that has happened since I last saw you."

Ned recited the history of their adventures, and Captain Francis
approved of the course which they had taken, in making for Tidore
instead of Ternate. He was greatly amused at their experiences as
South Sea deities, and said that henceforth, let them be lost where
they would, or for as long as they might be, he would never again
feel any uneasiness as to their fate. He invited them to take up
their abode with him, while they stayed in London; and although
they were eager to r