hore. I did not know what their intention in landing might be, so
shook the chopper at them to warn them off. My stature, and the sight of
my bare right arm, had their due effect, for they sheered off, a few
boats' lengths, much to my relief. I soon found, however, that they were
two of the men of Herm on a very peaceful mission, as they simply came
to deliver a letter to me which a boat had brought over from St. Peter
Port. I dare not speak, or could have asked them their mission, and they
seemed quite dumbfounded at my bellicose attitude towards them.

The man in the stern now held up the letter, upon which I pantomimically
intimated my wish that he should come close in and throw the letter to
me. I then, lest they should be afraid to approach, threw my chopper as
far behind me as I could, sending it clattering among the boulders
nearly up to the cliff. Then the man in the stern folded the letter in
two, and tied a piece of spun yarn round it, to which he attached a
piece of stone, and tossed it to me. It fell fluttering near me, and I
was almost afraid to pick it up, for fear it might contain some bad news
of my family; but stooping, I secured it, placing it in my shirt bosom.
Then by signs I expressed my thanks to the kind Hermese who had brought
the missive.

When they had pulled out of sight towards Herm I sat down on a rock, and
very mistrustfully drew forth the crumpled envelope. Was my father dead?
What of Priscilla? Was mother ailing? These and a hundred other
questions flashed across my mind as I slowly broke open the envelope. It
was a letter from my dear old dad. Short, but quite assuring it ran:

"MY DEAR BOY,

"All is well. On the 2nd of March you will have occupied Jethou
just twelve months. Some of my Yarmouth friends say I am cruel to
allow you to stay alone so long, and think you must be so broken
down by your exile, that nothing would keep you in Jethou six
months longer. Young Johnson has even gone so far as to say he
would wager you one hundred pounds you dare not stay another six
months, and I therefore write to make known his offer, which I have
in black and white, duly signed by him.

"Write me the word, YES or NO, _only_.

"Your affectionate Father,

"WILLIAM K. NILFORD."

What a curious letter from my father after all these months! Not a word
as to himself, mother, or Pr