pondent, myself. I usually get Faith, here, to answer
my letters. Of course she may not make them so interesting as I
should, but, barring a little too much tendency to long words and
poetical quotations, she does very well. Yes, indeed, let us hear
occasionally, Mr. Carnegie. I shall be interested to learn how you
succeed in your new work."

Though all were smiling at the captain's raillery, Carnegie turned an
earnest face upon him.

"I have some idea that I may go back with you. You will have to be
here much longer than you had intended, won't you?"

"Considerably longer, yes. All right, if you can. The old
'International' will give you a welcome."

The two callers lingered almost beyond the limits of etiquette, and
when they separated it was with an "Au revoir" from the young officer.

"I won't say good-by," he declared; "I shall see you again."

It was a day or so later. The Hosmers had taken the little steam
launch for a trip to the island of Elephanta, containing the famous
caves of the same name. It was a glorious morning, and the short trip
over the dancing, dazzling waves to the pretty islet, with its steep
banks and waving palms, was a delightful one. As they landed, the
captain pointed out the mangrove swamps, and the rich growth of wild
indigo and Karunda bushes, while Hope went wild over the splendid
butterflies, which settled down in showers before them, transforming
the green bushes into great nosegays of purple, crimson, and orange
bloom. Only, these blossoms constantly changed and shifted, with
feathery, fluttering movements and kaleidoscopic changes.

Birds were many and brilliant, also, and to add to this animal life a
horde of dark-skinned little Hindu boys started up at every turn,
clamoring to sell the party all sorts of odd collections, from jungle
flowers to the gilded wood lice, the name of which condemns them,
though they are really beautiful insects, until death robs them of
their glow, and makes them as repulsive as others of their kin.

"Haven't I heard that snakes abound here?" asked Faith timorously, as
they ascended the stone steps leading up the hill from the swampland
below. "Don't they kill a good many every year?"

Her father smiled knowingly, and, as they reached the top, turned to an
English soldier in charge, and said laughingly, "My daughter, here,
imagines you keep snakes on hand--the idea!"

The other seemed to find some fun in the remark, and grinned broa