all three then left the ship in our boat, and as we came in sight of
Shark Isle, Jack, who was on the fort, fired his guns.

When we came to the beach, my wife and the rest were there to meet
us. Jane was half wild with joy when she heard that Captain Stone had
brought her good news from home.

We led them round our house and through the grounds and Mr. West took
note of all he saw. When we came to talk, I found that he had made up
his mind to stay with us. I need not say how glad I was to hear this,
for he had brought out with him a large stock of farm tools, of which we
had long been in want.

The boys were of course in high glee at all this, but I did not share
their joy so much as I could wish. The ship which now lay close to our
shore was the first we had seen since we came to the isle, and no one
could tell when the next might come. My wife and I did not wish to
leave. I had a love for the kind of life we led, and we were both at an
age when ease and rest should take the place of toil. But then our sons
were young--not yet in the prime of life--and I did not think it right
that we should keep them from the world. Jane, I could tell, would not
stay with us, nor did she hide from us the fact that her heart drew her
to the dear one at home, from whom she had been kept so long. So I told
my wife that I would ask my boys to choose what they would do--to stay
with us on the isle, or leave with Captain Stone in the ship.

Fritz and Jack said they would not leave us; Ernest spoke not a word,
but I saw that he had made up his mind to go. I did not grieve at this,
as I felt that our isle was too small for the scope of his mind, and did
not give him the means to learn all he could wish. I told him to speak
out, when he said he should like to leave the place for a few years, and
he knew Frank had a wish to go with him.

I thought this would give my wife pain, but she said that the boys had
made a good choice, and that she knew Ernest and Frank would make their
way in the world.

Captain Stone gave Jane, Ernest, and Frank leave to go with him, as
there was room in the ship now that the Wests were to stay with us.

The ship was brought round to Safe Bay, and Fritz and Jack went on board
to fetch Mrs. West and her two girls, who were glad to find that they
were not to go back to the ship, for the storm had made them dread the
sea.

I may here say, by the way, that my wife soon found that her two sons
grew fond of their