e anxious because they despised the
crocodiles, and said they were stupid creatures, and would never hurt
any one who was on his guard; and that only animals when very thirsty
and drinking, or people incautiously bathing, were ever caught. As soon
as they were gone, we set to work with our various duties in the house.
I have not described them, but we had plenty to do, and wished to employ
ourselves usefully. After that, Grace and I agreed to go down to the
beach in the vain hope--I am almost compelled to acknowledge that it is
so--that Walter might be returning. I can now understand how those who
have lost some dear one at sea go to the shore day after day and month
after month, hoping against hope, that they might return. When I am
away from the beach, I am constantly wishing to return to it, and often
in the house I look down the pathway leading to the shore, fancying that
possibly I might see Walter coming up it. Oh, what joy it would be to
my heart! My dear, dear brother!--the only person in the world nearly
related to me, whom I know well and love thoroughly. Our uncle is very
kind, but I as yet do not know him well, and he is odd in some things.
Oliver truly acts the part of a brother, and I am sure loves me as a
sister, and I value his regard. Merlin seemed also to watch the horizon
as anxiously as we did. I am sure he knows that Walter is away, and is
also looking for him.

We watched and watched, till the sun, sinking low in the horizon, warned
us that we must go back and prepare supper for our friends. The
ship-builders would soon be coming back, and we hoped that my uncle and
Oliver would also be coming home. Again we cast one lingering look
towards the horizon, but there was no break in its clear, well-marked
line. We found the Frau somewhat anxious about us. "I do always think
of that horrid mias, for though Merlin would fight for you, yet the
creature would kill the dog with one grip of his big hands," she
observed. We had got the table spread, and the Frau was putting some
dishes on it, when Mr Hooker and the rest arrived from Hope Harbour.
They had seen nothing of my uncle and Oliver. Why had they not come
back? I remembered my forebodings in the morning, and again began to
fear that some accident had happened to them. Mr Hooker, however, said
he thought they would have been led, by their anxiety to obtain game,
further than they intended; and as all the party were very hungry, they
com