ld help her. This, as we knew, had
led Fritz to make his search, the end of which had brought as much joy
to us as to the young friend who now sat in our midst.

When Fritz had told us this, and much more, we came in sight of Safe
Bay. He then took Ernest with him in his small boat, and left us to go
up the stream as fast as he could to Rock House, so as to make the place
look neat by the time we brought home our guest. The two boys--for to us
they were still boys--met us on the beach. Fritz, with a look of pride,
gave his hand to Jane, and I could see a slight blush rise to her cheek
as she gave him hers. He then led her up the path, on each side of which
grew a row of young trees, and took her to a seat in our grounds. There
he and Ernest had spread out a feast of our best food--fish, fowls, and
fruit, and some of my wife's choice jam--whilst our burnt clay plate
made a great show on the board, for it was set out with some taste. We
had a wish to show Jane that, though the coast was a wild kind of place,
still there were means to make life a joy to those who dwelt on it, if
they chose to use them. As for Jane, the sight of our home, the style
of our feast, and the kind words of the boys, were things so new to her,
that she knew not what to say.

"I shall tell no more than the truth," she said, "when I say that what
you have shown me is of far more worth than all the wealth I have seen
in the East, and that I feel more joy this day than I have felt in all
the days of my life. I can use no terms less strong than these to show
how much I thank you."

This was just the kind of speech to please the boys, for there had been
no one to praise their work till now. When the meal was done, my wife
brought out some of her best wine, and we drank to the health of our
guest in great state, and with loud cheers. We then made a tour of our
house and grounds, that Jane might see the whole of the place that from
this time she was to make her home. It would take me a long time to tell
what she thought of all she saw, or the neat things she said in praise
of our skill, as we took her from place to place. My wife's room, in
which were kept the pots and pans to dress our food, and the plates,
bowls, and cups, out of which we ate, took her some time to view; for
she had long felt the want of such things as she now saw we had made for
our own use out of what we could find.

The next day we all went to The Nest, and when the rainy season c