rs,
meantime, began to let fly their arrows; but Tarbox, settling the other
man who had hold of Roger's oar, in the same way as he had done the
first, and I being taken on board, the boat pulled rapidly towards the
brig.

I still could scarcely believe that I was not dreaming. "What!" I
exclaimed, looking up at Tarbox, "are you really alive, or is this all
fancy? I thought you were all lost when the mast went over."

"It is no fancy, but we are all alive and jolly," answered Tarbox.
"Thank Heaven, Roger Trew and I, and a few others of us, were able to
cling on to the mast. We thought you had been lost; and thankful I am
to find that we were wrong about you, as you were about us."

However, as may be supposed, there was no time to ask questions or get
answers. I was satisfied that I was really awake, and had
providentially escaped from the savages. The brig, for fear of the
reefs, had been unable to get nearer. Numerous other canoes were seen
coming off from the shore. The savages appeared determined to recapture
us; and, perhaps, finding that the brig did not fire, hoped to take her
also. Before, however, they could reach the boat, we were alongside.

I quickly sprang up on deck, and there, with open arms, stood to welcome
me, my dear sister Emily. Grace and Mr Hooker were behind her. They
greeted me cordially. As may be supposed, they had many questions to
ask me, and so had I to ask them. The brig, I found, had been fitted up
by Mr Hooker and Captain Davenport. The captain, I was sorry to hear,
was unable to come in her, and Mrs Davenport had remained behind at
Ternate to nurse him. Mr Thudicumb had come in command, with those of
the crew of the _Bussorah Merchant_ who had been left on shore.

The captain's object was to search for his lost ship. Mr Hooker had
the same object in view, as also to examine the various islands we were
likely to call at, for the sake of gaining information in natural
history. Emily had entreated to be allowed to come; and the captain,
after some hesitation, thinking that his daughter's health might be
benefited by the voyage, allowed her to accompany Grace. An old Dutch
woman, Frau Ursula she was called, who spoke a little English, and to
whom I was presently introduced, came as a sort of nurse, or governante.

The savages meantime were approaching; and Mr Thudicumb and his men
were making preparations for their reception, getting all the arms on
board loaded, inclu