nd," said Mr Sedgwick. "We are
English people escaping from a burning mountain."

"You will be welcome aboard our ship at all events," was the answer.
"Here, catch hold of this rope, and we will tow your raft alongside."

A rope was hove to us over the stern of the boat, and without further
words we were towed away towards the ship. I eyed her with pleasure. I
had often thought that if I once got ashore I should never wish to go to
sea again. On looking, however, at her fine proportions and trim
rigging, I felt that I should be proud to be an officer of such a craft.

Of course we did not move quickly. It was some time before we were
alongside. "Come, we must now take you on board," said the officer in
the boat. "The ladies first, I conclude." The Frau, Emily, and Grace
were handed in. "We can take more, though. Here you, young man, and
one of you gentlemen." Mr Hooker followed him into the boat.

An accommodation ladder was let down, as the sea was as smooth as in a
sheltered harbour. The Frau was helped up the side first, and the two
girls followed. Suddenly I heard a loud shriek of astonishment, and
presently whose face should I see but that of my old friend Captain
Davenport appearing at the gangway. In another instant he had his
daughter Grace in his arms.

"My mother! where is my mother?" exclaimed Grace.

"Here, here, my child!" and Mrs Davenport received her daughter from
her husband's arms. Both held her, gazing anxiously at her face.

"You are restored to us, my child," said Mrs Davenport.

"And Emily, our second daughter!" exclaimed the old captain, taking
Emily in his arms. She received almost as loving a welcome as Grace had
done, and I had ample reason to be thankful for my reception.

I must make a long story short. We found that Captain and Mrs
Davenport, after waiting at Singapore for some months, vainly expecting
our return, and after having made every inquiry in their power for the
missing _Dugong_, had at length given up the search, under the belief
that we had been lost in a typhoon. A ship had touched at Singapore
whose captain had died, and Captain Davenport having lost so much of his
property in the _Bussorah Merchant_, had been compelled to accept the
charge of taking her home. He had there been immediately appointed to
the command of a new ship--the _Ulysses_. The offer he gladly accepted,
as she was, after touching at Singapore, to proceed round the south
coast of