knew must soon
occur."

Jack, of course, said how thankful he was that he had been
providentially directed to the spot in time to save their lives; he then
mentioned Alick Murray, and asked Stella when she had last heard from
him, telling her of the letter he himself had received.

Hers was of about the same date.

"Poor fellow," added Jack, "he seems dreadfully out of spirits; and I
trust, Miss O'Regan, that you will do your best to restore them."

Stella said nothing, but Fanny Bradshaw told Jack that she did not think
her friend would longer be obdurate.

"I hope not," he answered, "I have promised to be his best man, and I
wish to fulfil that engagement before I pay a visit to my old friend,
Adair, at Ballymacree. You, of course, will be one of the bridesmaids?"

Fanny said that she had little doubt about that, and changed the subject
by making inquiries respecting Ballymacree. Jack, of course, gave the
description he had received from Terence.

"And your friend has a number of pretty Irish sisters?" asked Fanny.

"Irish of course they are, and as to their beauty Terence has not said
much about that, except that his sister Kathleen is an attractive girl,
and observed that I should be able to form an opinion myself on the
matter."

Fanny did not ask many more questions about Ballymacree.

Jack at first feared that it might be necessary to put into Funchal, but
the weather becoming fine, the leaks were kept under by dint of constant
pumping, and at last the _Supplejack_ reached soundings in the chops of
the Channel. The wind held fair, and she was not long in running up it.
Her leaky condition was a sufficient excuse for going at once into
Portsmouth harbour, without waiting for orders.

Jack immediately went on shore to report his arrival to the admiral. He
was again hurrying on board to escort the ladies and Mr Bradshaw to an
hotel, when who should he meet but Admiral Triton, looking scarcely a
day older than when he last saw him.

"Jack, my boy, I am rejoiced to see you," exclaimed the old man, "and
the more so, as I want your assistance in consoling a heartbroken friend
of yours, Alick Murray. He has just received intelligence that the ship
in which the young lady he expected to marry was coming home was seen by
a vessel just arrived, dismasted in mid-Atlantic, and as the gale
continued for several days afterwards, great fears are entertained for
her safety."

"My task will be an easy one, th