e the information required. After a little parley, the boat
went its way to the schooner; the officer in charge declaring with an
odd smile that the castaways had better make known their condition to
the captain, before returning for the others on the island. Percival was
in no mood to demur: he and Jackson stepped into the ship's boat, and
their own tiny craft was towed behind it as a curiosity in boatbuilding.

There was a good deal of crowding at the ship's sides to look at the
new-comers: and, as Percival sprang on board, with a sense of almost
overpowering relief and joy at the sight of his country-men, a broad,
red-faced man with a black beard, came up, and, as soon as he learnt his
name, shook him heartily by the hand.

"So you're Mr. Heron," he said, giving him an oddly interested and
approving look. "Well, sir, we've come a good way for you, and I hope
you're glad to see us. You'll find some acquaintances of yours below."

"Acquaintances?" said Heron, staring.

"There's one, at any rate," said the captain, pushing forward a seaman
who was standing at his elbow, with a broad grin upon his face.
"Remember Mason of the _Arizona_, Mr. Heron? Ah, well! if you go into
the cabin, you'll find someone you remember better." And then the
captain laughed, and Heron saw a smile on the faces round him, which
confused him a little, and made him fancy that something was going
wrong. But he had not much time for reflection. He was half-led,
half-pushed, down the companion ladder, but in such a good-humoured,
friendly way that he did not know how to resist; and then the
fair-haired young man opened a door and said, "He's here, sir!" in a
tone of triumph, which was certainly not ill bestowed. And then there
arose some sort of confusion, and Percival heard familiar voices, and
felt that his hand was half-shaken off, and that somebody had kissed his
cheek.

But for the moment he saw no one but Elizabeth.

They had known for some little time that their quest had been
successful, that Percival was safe. They had seen him as he rowed from
the island, as he entered the other boat, as he set his foot upon the
schooner; and then they had withdrawn into the cabin, so that they might
not meet him under the inquisitive, if friendly, eyes of the captain and
his crew. Perhaps they had hardly made enough allowance for the shock of
surprise and joy which their appearance was certain to cause Percival.
His illness and long residence on the