Mother.—"Then you think we had better go at once to the rock."

Captain.—"Yes, yes, without a doubt. Ye'll get up without a soul seeing ye, and ye can kick in the brushwood weel. Now gang, gang yer ways, and when aince up, keep close as mice."

Schillie.—"I begin to think you have some nous in your head, June, thinking of that rock. It's so near the ship we may, perhaps, get off in the night."

Mother.—"Heaven grant it. How that woman screams."

Schillie.—"I should like to give her something to scream about, but you are loading yourself like a pack horse. Well done, Sybil; now, girls, scuttle about, take what's useful; whoever carries up anything not wanted will have to bring it back again in the teeth of the enemy."

Gatty.—"If you please, little Mother, may I stop behind for one minute, just to speak my mind to Hargrave."

Schillie.—"She won't be let in this hour, you ape. Now is our only time for getting up to the top of that rock; where we shall have a full view of the enemy all round."

Madame.—"Gracious heaven, preserve us all. What dangers have we not to endure from the frightful weakness of one woman."

Schillie.—"It's no use moralizing, Madame, pick up something useful, and be off."

Gatty.—"Here is the green parasol, Madame."

Serena.—"And here is your warm shawl."

Sybil.—"And here is my arm to help you along."

Madame (murmuring).—"May God help us, may the Almighty look down upon us in our hour of need, and preserve my beloved ones."

Sybil.—"Come, Madame, come, see how active the little ones are. Think how charming to be safe up there, think how lucky we are to have Smart and the dear captain to help us. Look at Otty with all the guns running like a hare, and all the little girls flying like lapwings. Come, Madame, come quickly."

So we ran about in every direction, and, collecting everything that was useful, we left our friendly shelter and took refuge on the isolated rock before-mentioned.

There was some brushwood at the top, and two or three old weather-beaten palm trees, these afforded us most welcome shelter.

It was weary work getting to the top, but when once there we hauled up many of our things by ropes, and some of us had time to return to the cavern and bring away a rope ladder, with several other valuable acquisitions that, had we been hurried, we should not have recollected them, also quantities of water.

To our surprise, we saw nothing of Smart after Hargrave's first scream; he disappeared, and we were all upon the rock but Madame when we missed him, requiring his strong arm to help her up.

Not all the assistance we could give her seemed likely to get her to the top, she was in so nervous a state. In vain she implored us to leave her to her fate. Nothing but seeing us all begin to scramble down again to share it with her made her at last, in a fit of desperation, reach the top. When there, she sunk on the ground helpless, and we laid her at the foot of one of the palm trees, where she declared she would breathe her last sigh. The three elder girls now collected all the precious drops of water, putting them under bushes, covering them with sand, to prevent the powerful sun from evaporating the smallest quantity of such precious liquid.

Schillie and the boys prepared the guns and pistols, putting everything "handy," as they called it, for a siege. We snatched a hasty meal, not knowing when we might have another opportunity; then laying ourselves down, we hid snugly in the brushwood, seeing everything, yet utterly unseen ourselves.

Gatty.—"It's jolly fun being perched up here seeing all the country round. But what is the reason we have come up?"

Schillie (shortly).—"You were ordered to, that's enough."

Gatty (half whispering to the girls).—"The bear is out to-day. If I don't mind I shall get a scratch from its claws."

Schillie (overhearing).—"Bear or not, Miss Gatty, you will be so good as to keep a silent tongue in your head."

Gatty.—"If you please, little Mother, why?"

Mother.—"Why, Gatty, don't you perceive that if we continue to hide ourselves as we do now the enemy will never guess where we are. But if you chatter like any magpie, of course they will find us out."

Gatty.—"Well, I am ready to do anything reasonable and now that I have had a good reason given me, I'll be as mute as any mole."

Schillie.—"Who deems a mole like you worth a reason."

Sybil.—"Oh, little Mother, Gatty has a capital head when she is trusted."

Schillie.—"Filled with your notions, I suppose, Miss Sybil."

Gatty.—"If you please, little Mother, cannot we get off to the ship to-night; it's quite close, and no sharks to speak of."

Schillie.—"When your advice is asked, then you may give us your sage opinions."

Mother.—"Come, Schillie, don't be so cross to the poor girls. You know Gatty has given your own advice in almost your own words."

Schillie.—"Why don't you and those two magpies follow the example of that good child Serena, and hold your tongues, as she does."

Mother.—"We shall not be disturbed yet awhile. But what makes you so cross?"

Schillie.—"I wonder you don't see what a predicament we are in; and it is no very pleasant prospect being sea-sick for the next month, let alone going to sea in this mad way, with only the captain for crew."

Mother.—"Indeed it is very hazardous. I almost think we had better not trust ourselves to the sea, but run our chance with the pirates."

"Oh, no, no," said all the girls and boys.

"Now if you make such a noise again, children, down you shall all go into the mouths of those sharks," said Schillie.

"Then promise not to give up," said they in return.

"I promise nothing," said she.

"Then the king of the pirates will come and take you away, cousin," said Felix.

Schillie uttered something between a sigh and a groan, and then said, "You are an impudent boy, Master Felix, and I always tell your Mother you'll come to no good. But whether she will live to see you hanged or not I cannot say, for our fate is horrible every way. Just too as we were getting so comfortable, and having everything so nice and snug about us. I do not think there is a plant on the island of which I have not discovered the name and property, and everything grows so beautifully, and such bathing, besides, such delicious fish, and I am so fond of fish, really it is too bad. I am just beginning to think the island a very nice sort of little place, and here we are sent to the right about in this horrid fashion."

Gatty.—"Cannot we somehow contrive to kill all the pirates, and get rid of them altogether."

Sybil.—"Yes, we could shoot them from here, taking good aim."

Gatty.—"Ha! ha! just listen to Sybil. Could any one ever have thought she would have been so bloody-minded."

Serena.—"I wish Zoe and Jenny were safely with us, then we should be quite happy, having only the captain and Smart to wait for."

Sybil.—"I dare say that is the reason Smart left us in such a hurry."

Gatty.—"I hope it is as you say, old Syb, and I hope still more that they will join us soon, and I hope most of all that they will leave Hargrave behind."

Sybil.—"Poor thing, but what will they do with her?"

Gatty.—"Eat her, I dare say, and very tough——"

Lilly.—"Oh, Mother, look there! Oh, look! look! Here is Zoe coming, and Smart, and Jenny."

Up we all jumped, and saw the three stealing round the rocks, not two hundred yards from the shore. Run, we all shouted, waving everything we could lay our hands on. They saw us in a moment, and quitting the shelter of the rocks, ran down towards us.

At this moment a noise of yelling and screaming was heard, and the whole body of pirates, men, women, and children, came rushing out from underneath the waterfall.

Smart heard them first, and catching up Zoe in his arms, giving Jenny some directions, he plunged into the sea, while Jenny kept running to that point of the rock where was the only accessible point for scrambling up. The tide was half flow, which favoured Smart but would impede Jenny, unless she dashed through the waves without regarding a wetting. By the care that Smart took of his little charge, and by Jenny's deliberate proceedings, we saw the servants both meant to sacrifice themselves for the sake of the child.

We, on our parts, were bewildered for a moment with the coming strife, but the thoughtful boys, rolling stones down to startle away the sharks before their dear Smart's way, recalled us to our senses. We let down the rope ladder, and the ready Smart swam to it. Placing his precious charge on it, he watched her run nimbly up it and we receive her with rapture in safety, when he wiped his streaming brow, and plunged into the sea again.

Leaving the little ones all to kiss and embrace the lost and found, we ran to the other side to watch Jenny, and help her if we could. She is flying now, and dashes through the water, heedless of the coming waves. She does not intend to be taken prisoner again without a struggle. But there is one horrid pirate outstripping all the others. "Oh, Jenny, Jenny, run, he is gaining on you." What shall we do to help her? How shall we bear to see her taken before our eyes? She touches the rock. "A few more steps, Jenny, and you can seize the rope we have let down to assist you. Oh, horrid fellow, did ever any one run so fast. Ah, it is of no use, dear, dear Jenny; one more effort." "Mother, Mother," said Oscar, "cannot I shoot him?" "No, dear boy," said Schillie, "you cannot without hurting Jenny." "But let me try, do let me try. Oh dear, oh dear, it is too late, he has hold of her." Throwing away his gun, the boy swung down by the rope before we could prevent him. In vain Jenny called on him not to come, he was down in a moment, and attacked the pirate, who had both arms round Jenny, with his cutlass. She struggled, and turning round aided his efforts by buffeting the pirate in the face with her hands and nails. At this moment Smart appeared, emerging from the sea, having swam round the rock. One blow from his powerful fist settled the matter. The pirate fell down stunned upon the rocks. Oscar gave him a parting kick, and then all three assisting each other, scrambled up the rock in no time, where we most joyfully received them, and where they did not arrive a minute too soon, for the whole body of pirates were close at hand.



CHAPTER XXXVIII.

And now how silly we looked, all exposed to the wondering gaze of the pirates. I heard Schillie muttering, "What a pack of fools we have been," while Oscar said, "Cousin, we have gone and done it now. We shall have to fight for it, and we shall have a good rowing from the captain. I had better go and see after the guns." This he did, shaking them one by one at the pirates as he examined them, while he and Felix kept appearing and disappearing from behind the trees, sometimes with hats and sometimes without, as if to make believe there were half a dozen boys. Smart lay his full length on the ground, endeavouring to recover his breath, after his late exertions.

It was of no use disguising the fact, we had discovered ourselves and our hiding place, and though no one certainly could get to us without leave, our helplessness would be fully apparent, and our identity with the lost party well known. All the advantages we had gained from our concealment were now over. We had nothing to do but wait in patience for what fate had yet in store for us.

All this time, while these thoughts were rapidly running through our heads, the whole colony of pirates were staring in undisguised amazement at us.

Sybil.—"What a frightful set of wretches."

Gatty.—"Horrid. We will never capitulate to them."

Serena.—"The women look as fierce as the men. How they do stare, just as if they never saw human beings before."

Oscar.—"I could pick off a fellow or two from this distance, Mother, if you like."

Smart (from his lair in the bushes).—"Ha' done, if you please, Sir, with any such notion. Let me get a breath or two afore we come to a fight; and anyways let them strike the first blow."

Oscar and Felix (together).—"Then do make haste, Smart, and get your breath. If the captain was but here, we could easily fight those wretches."

Smart.—"Breath or no breath, I ben't agoing to fight them devildoms with no better helps than you two, young masters. Bide quiet like brave boys, and do as the Duke of Wellington does."

Felix.—"How is that, Tommy?"

Smart.—"Why he waits until the enemy gives him a reason to get his blood up, and when that's done it's all up with them."

Felix.—"But my blood is up, Tom."

Smart.—"Then let it cool a bit, Sir; any way the tide is rising, and them rascals is sufficiently knowledgeable to see that the sharks is a guarding of us now. When it gets dark it will be ebbing and I'll be off to see after cap'n, and you'll have enew to do, Sir, to keep watch until we get back."

Gatty.—"Don't bring Hargrave back if you can help it, Smart."

Smart.—"I ben't much inclined that way myself, Miss, but I have heerd we are bound to be merciful."

Gatty.—"She has not been merciful to us, I am sure."

Smart.—"I do partly think as she ben't quite answerable for her ways. Any how I shanna put myself out of the way to look after her."

Mother.—"Oh yes, Smart, you must try your best."

Smart.—"To be sure, Ma'am, if so be you wishes it. But I be thinking there is a power of mischief in her yet."

Mother.—"I think it must all have been frightened out of her by this time. Did you see anything of her when you went in search of the others?"

Smart.—"No, Madam, I went straight away for Miss Zoe and Jenny, the cap'n having given me my orders so to do, let alone me ordering myself that way also. I had to knock over a couple of women-kind, which went agin my conscience: not knowing how people might act towards my poor dear woman, and my two pretty boys, all these years that I have been from them."

Here Smart showed symptoms of a pathetic nature, for which Felix tried to comfort him saying, "I am sure they are doing very well, for Mrs. Smart will have taken in some washing, and Jem is I dare say a gamekeeper by now, and perhaps little Tom too."

From Jenny we further learnt that they had come round the way they did to avoid the pirates. As they passed the upper caverns they heard what Jenny called a great "scremmage," but saw nothing of Hargrave or the captain. Had they been ten minutes sooner round the rock they might have reached us in safety, and without discovery.

The pirates having given full scope to their curiosity regarding us, now separated, and, while some remained as watchers, the others went off to examine the waterfall and caverns, and look, as we supposed, for our two companions.

"Ha, ha," said Smart, as he saw them emerging in and out from beneath the waterfall, "if it had not been for that demented woman you would never have speered that place, I'll go bail. Mighty pretty it is too as well as uncommon convanient."

Oscar.—"Is it not like the waterfall at Cil Hepste in Glamorganshire."

Smart.—"Just such another, Sir, and if I have the luck to see that ere waterfall again, it's a pity if I don't look o' the inside of it."

Felix.—"What, do you think we shall find caverns and pirates in it, like this one, Tommy?"

Smart.—"No, Sir, I'se warrant there is neer a pirate there, but it's an uncommon curious place, and like this 'un as one pea to another. The ould lady seems but baddish I consate."

This was but too true. Whether from the fright or the heat, or the unusual exertions, Madame was anything but well, and fell from one fit of hysterics to another. We could do but little to mend her, for even supposing we had had smelling salts on the island we should not have deemed it one of the necessaries to bring upon the rock. We put Zoe beside her with orders to talk to her, and tell her as many of her adventures as she could to amuse and divert her mind.

And then Jenny told us how good and brave Miss Zoe had been, and how neither of them would have been taken prisoners had it not been for that "squawking" Hargrave. Upon which Gatty and the boys declared they wished her no worse fate than to be married to one of the pirates.

Schillie (with gravity).—"I will make over to her my interest with the King."

Gatty.—"We might actually have been on board sailing away at this moment instead of frying up here, with these frightful pirates blinking and grinning at us, as if they never saw Christians before."

Sybil.—"Perhaps they never did, Gatty."

Serena.—"Jenny, did you know that we were discovered in the caverns through Hargrave? They made her a trap to catch us."

Jenny.—"Miss Zoe told me, Miss, she was afraid from what she could make out that they were going to make something out of Mrs. Hargrave. But I could not understand them at all. Nevertheless we both cautioned her as much as possible, though she was in such a sad way I doubt if she heard us. After awhile she was taken away from us, and, though I told her the last thing to be sure to be careful, and do her duty by her mistress, she screamed so I don't think she minded me one bit. The women were pretty civil, but very wild and bad looking, and I would not bear them to touch Miss Zoe, which they were trying to do all the while. And, oh, Miss Zoe was so brave, and, whenever I said you were all dead she said so too."

Gatty.—"How could you tell such fibs, Zoe? Madame will give you that odious Theresa Tidy's Nineteen Maxims of Neatness and Order, to do into German, for being so naughty."

"Angel child, never, never could I punish her after her agonizing sufferings," murmured the good kind Madame.

The strict watch kept over us began to be so wearisome we were glad when night veiled us in her dark mantle.

It was astonishing with what composure we laid down to rest, secure in the sharks' guard for some few hours yet, while the morrow, with all its probable horrors, seemed not to present itself to any mind. "We trusted in God that he would deliver us."



CHAPTER XXXIX.

The morning's light brought us no change either for worse or better, excepting that under cover of the night Smart had gone to search for our other companions. He gave us orders what to do, in case of an attack, and departed with these comforting words "Let a score on 'em attack ye, and I'll be bound the young gentlemen, if they be but steady, can keep 'em off. Any ways Mrs. E. can, and if we hear shots cap'in and I will just come in the rear in nick o' time."

We sat composedly down to such breakfast as we had, which led to an examination as to what had been brought up. We had plenty of water, bread, yams, and potatoes. No little girl had forgotten her parrot, or the boys their monkeys; in fact Felix declared his had been very useful, as he made him carry two great potatoes. "But," said Lilly, "you had to carry him, so it made no great difference."

"Moreover," says Felix, "I brought my two hens, because they lay eggs, and Tommy is so fond of eggs."

Lilly.—"I do think you love Smart more than any of us, more than your Mother."

Felix.—"Oh! any body may have the other egg, but I must keep one for my Tommy. He has never been quite well since he was with those brutes. And I am his doctor he says, so I order him eggs. And if I bid him do it, I know he would eat twenty, one after another."

Mother.—"How odd it seems to Schillie, our laughing at all this nonsense of the children, when we certainly are in a very uncomfortable position. We seem to think we are in no danger, now we have got the captain and Smart to help us, and I doubt if we were ever in a worse predicament than now."

Schillie.—"Predicament or not, it's extremely nasty not being allowed any water to wash with, and I shall owe Hargrave a grudge all my life. Here we have been accustomed to bathe two or three times a-day, now stewed to death we are only allowed sufficient water to send bread down our throats, that would otherwise stick there."

Mother.—"I wish that may be our greatest inconvenience; it's all very well for Smart to say that we are in no danger, but if these people keep staring at us and watching us all day as they did yesterday what are we to do? They'll stare us out, let alone the chance of our being broiled to death. I feel quite sure Madame will have a brain fever if we don't take care."

Schillie.—"Well don't fuss. We can last out a week of this work, perhaps, and then we shall at all events be less fat for the fishes. I intend to try the depths of those caverns before I put myself in the power of that pirate captain."

I shuddered as she pointed down to the blue waters, through whose depths we could see endless caverns of fantastically shaped coral.

"Oh! Ma'am, Ma'am," cried Jenny, "they are coming up." We ran for our weapons, concealing them as well as we could, and then stood on the defensive, Schillie on one side of the path and I on the other, the rest all ready to hand us the guns. "Shoot, Schillie, shoot," I said, "hit the foremost man, and he'll tumble over the others."

"I am trying, I am indeed, but don't you know I cannot even kill a wasp! Hang me if I can do it," said Schillie, turning white as a sheet, and letting her gun drop. Steadily Otty raises his gun, fires, and the foremost man falls, knocking over two others, and causing great confusion. Felix, by way of calming it, fires his gun right into the middle of them.

Their imprecations were loud and deep, and their rage seemed boundless as they looked up at their two little antagonists. One man dead, two hurt. "Very good boys," say we. But the pirates were not to be driven back in this manner. It was too humiliating to be repulsed by two boys. They seemed speculating as to what had become of Smart, he was evidently not with us. So once more they essayed the ascent, sheltering themselves as well as they could from the guns, by creeping under cover of the ledges of rock. "Now let's all be firm this time," we whispered, "for shoot them we must." Schillie took a great gulp of water, seized her gun, and once more we all stood ready. "Let them come quite close," said Oscar.

But a fresh person appeared on the scene of action, whose shrill screams told her name better than anything. Not that anybody seemed hurting or molesting her, but attracted, I suppose, by the sound of the guns, she had ventured forth from her hiding place, and discovered us all roosting at the top of the rock. Not being able to entertain more than one idea at a time, and that idea being since her separation from us solely how she could rejoin, it was not a matter of wonder, that to see us, was to make her rush down towards us. It never entered her limited capacity to think that the pirates might object to the re-union. However they showed themselves most civil and polite towards Mrs. Hargrave, though we on the rock did not give them credit for acting entirely from disinterested motives.

Schillie.—"Upon my life! if they are not going to let that mad woman come up here. You may be sure, June, they have some motive for this gratuitous kindness. I dare say they think such an ass of a woman will be more likely to do us harm than good by her presence. Well! any body may help her up that likes, I won't."

"Nor I, nor I," sounded on all sides.

But there was no need for us to offer, for the amiable pirates were kindly assisting her up themselves. Little did Mrs. Hargrave dream that they were making a convenient shield of her most precious self and that if we hoped to execute our former man[oe]uvre we should have to send our bullets through her first. She thought of nothing but being again amongst us, and scrambled and struggled towards us, screaming the whole time.

Oscar.—"Mother, I must shoot her, there is no help for it. If one of those fellows gets footing on here, we may as well give ourselves up. You see he is close behind her."

Mother.—"We will just make one effort. Wait till she is so near that I can grasp hold of her, and then shoot; she must take her chance."

With the greatest coolness the brave boy did as he was bid; and I had no sooner grasped the woman than he fired. With a squall that no one could think proceeded out of human lips, she lost her footing and held on by me, and if Schillie had not had firm hold of me, Serena and Sybil of her, I must have gone over with Hargrave and the pirate. As it was, he fell dead, and we dragged her up, and, pulling her to some distance, we never stayed to enquire if she was wounded or not, but ran back to our posts. They were swarming up, just under a ledge, ready to make a bolt out upon us if we looked off one moment. "Get stones, little ones," whispered Serena, "they will help us, perhaps." Now they bolt. We all fire simultaneously. They retreat again, some wounded, but none dead. We took up the second relay of guns, Schillie carrying off the others to reload.

"In the name of all that's horrible," we heard her say, in a loud angry voice, "what are you doing here?"

Hargrave.—"I am not going to be shot at and killed by those dreadful guns any more, and, besides, the pirates gave me to understand down there as the sun would soon set the powder in a blaze, and we should all be blown up. Look at me, bleeding like a pig, and half my ear and one of my best ear-rings gone. No, no, though I was dead, as I thought, I was determined to throw the powder and shot over the rock, that you might be safe, if I died the next minute."

"Bring me that rope, Lilly," said Schillie, in a voice of concentrated rage. Gatty sprung to help her, and in two minutes the foolish woman was tied, with her hands behind her back, to one of the palm trees, and they returned to help us, as best we could be helped. We trusted that Smart would hear the firing, and come to our assistance before all hope was gone. But the pirates themselves ceased their warfare against us, finding the stones quite as destructive as the guns; besides, they seemed to be in a great state of uncertainty and trouble among themselves, and had so many consultations, and talked at such a rate, that we lost ourselves in conjectures as to what it could be all about. "They are in a mighty rage against us, I think, for killing the two men," said Oscar. "They don't want to hurt us, apparently," said Serena, "as they never fixed their guns at us." "Why, my dear child, don't you see that is against their interests to hurt any of us," said Schillie, "they want to sell us, or some such blessed thing."

Gatty (demurely).—"I don't think the king will sell you, little Mother."

Schillie.—"None of your nonsense. Miss. I'll marry you to him if you don't mind, and a regular dun duckity mud-coloured spouse you will have."

Gatty.—"If you please, little Mother, you are and have been so cross to me since we came up here."

Schillie.—"And no wonder, you young noodle, talking such nonsense, and behaving like a young ape when we are in such danger; and June is just as bad, encouraging you in all this stuff."

Mother.—"Come, don't let us quarrel, night is coming on. Go to bed, children. You and I must watch, Schillie."

Schillie.—"And I, feeling like a dead dog, wanting a week's sleep at least."

Mother.—"Then Hargrave shall help me."

Schillie.—"Help the pirates you mean; but who has looked after that female lately?"

We went to see her, and luckily she was unable to have her feelings wounded by any remark that might have been bottling up against her, for through her nose she gave audible demonstrations that she considered her troubles and sorrows over, and that any remonstrances on our parts would only be regarded as an unpleasant dream of the night.

"What a dirty draggle-tailed thing she looks," said Schillie, "in all that worn-out old finery. Why cannot she dress like us and Jenny in these serviceable dresses?"

"Oh, she made a particular request to me," I answered, "not to dress in our island costume, and asked leave to use all our old things to make herself, what she called, respectable. But are you really so tired you cannot watch?"

Schillie.—"To be sure not; you don't think I am going to let you watch without me, only I am regularly done up, and think it would be rather a good plan to get shot that I might have some rest."

Mother.—"Fie, Schillie, you forget what you are saying."

Schillie.—"I dare say I am very wicked, but don't bother me now; keep your scolding until we get out of this mess, if we ever do."



CHAPTER XL.

Towards midnight, a sound in the water made our hearts beat. Either the pirates meant to storm us at night, or Smart and the captain were attempting to join us. Calling the girls, we set them to watch the rope ladder, which we let down on the one side, while we watched the pathway on the other.

The tide was ebbing, though our rock was still wholly surrounded by water, yet not sufficient to make the sharks any protection to us. It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.

The sounds advanced on one side, though still so faint and designedly smothered we could distinguish nothing to lead us to know whether friends or foes were coming. Now, whoever they were, they certainly had landed at the foot of the rock. We instinctively each grasped a stone.

"The Lord be thankit, captain; I do consate as we have found the pathway," in Smart's tones, rose up to our delighted ears, and we grasped their hands with heartfelt pleasure as they severally reached the top. We had, however, a drawback to our pleasure, for Smart had been wounded looking for Mrs. Hargrave. The necessity of binding his wound and restoring his exhausted strength, prevented us from thinking of getting off to the ship then; besides, we had little more than an hour's darkness left us, and it would have taken that time to move Madame alone. So, after making Smart as comfortable as we could, Schillie and I ran off to take some rest, in the full assurance that half our cares were over, now that we had got our two able-bodied defenders among us again. Besides, no further responsibility rested on our shoulders, and that was so great a relief we were asleep almost before we laid down.



CHAPTER XLI.

The imperturbable Hargrave presented herself the next morning as perfectly rested, and ready to dress her mistress, and put her hair (now for so long neglected) into proper order. A piece of coolness and effrontery that so surprised me I remained quite dumb.

Not so the young ones; but I am ashamed to repeat all that was said, for, though they had right on their side, the unfortunate woman was set upon by all, and if tongues could sting, she would not have been alive now. At last she sat down in a remote corner of the rock, to weep and bewail herself, thinking, I dare say, that she had escaped from one set of savages into another. And, though she derived some consolation part of the time in what she called "tidying herself," she shed many a tear over her torn garments and battered appearance, declaring that she had had her clothes ruined by the rough way in which the captain and Smart had dragged her about. "Say that again," said Felix, "and I must spit at you to show my contempt."

That the captain and Smart had joined us soon became known among the pirates, and if they had been so severely repulsed before by two boys, it was madness attempting another assault.

So they set about means of devising how they could dislodge us, without endangering their own lives. Madame's increasing illness became our great care now, she was becoming delirious, and there was no possibility of subduing the fever upon this baking rock.

"A little cooling lime juice, Ma'am, I would venture to advise," said Hargrave.

"And who has put a stop to our having that?" was uttered on various sides, in various indignant tones.

Hargrave shrunk back into her corner again, while the captain said, "I will draw up some sea water, with which you must bathe her head. Smart's wound will fester I doubt; we have nothing here to ease that, I am grieved to say."

Middle day came, when the heat was greatest. We lay gasping, half dead with fatigue, heat, and fears as to what would be our fate. Suddenly we were roused by Smart's voice, who could not rest for the pain of his wound. "Be sharp, be sharp," he cried, "they are throwing lighted brands up here, we shall be on fire in a minute, and roast meat in ten." We flew in every direction, and threw them off as fast as they could throw them on. It was hotter work for them than us and, seeing us so active, they ceased for awhile. The captain then cut away great square plots of brushwood as best he could, to prevent much harm accruing in case they tried their brands again.

While thus occupied, Sybil came running to me, all in tears, and wringing her hands. "Oh, I have killed him, I am afraid he is dead," she cried.

"How? who?" we exclaimed.

"I only meant to frighten him, I would not hurt anybody. Oh, what shall I do?"

We ran with her to the extreme end of the rock, and, looking down, we saw on a ledge below, a large stone with a man beneath it.

"I was running here," continued the weeping Sybil, "to see if any brands were thrown in this direction, and, peeping down, I saw a man scrambling up, very near the top. He did not see me, but I had no time to lose, so I just pushed that great stone with all my might. You know we had remarked this stone before as being just in the position to roll down, if it was only on the other side. I do not know how I managed, but over it went, and fell directly on him; and, oh, I am afraid it has killed him. What shall I do, I shall never be happy again."

Gatty.—"Not happy again, Sib, I only wish I had done it."

Sybil.—"But, sister, do you think he is really dead? Can we not go down and save him, or take that great stone off him? Oh dear, oh dear, how could I do such a cruel thing."

Gatty.—"Oh, Sib, Sib, what a goose you are. You have done a glorious thing. I only wish it had been me. Think, Serena, of Sib having killed a pirate all by herself and we have not even cut off the little finger of one. It is too provoking."

We were obliged to take the poor tender-hearted girl away from the spot, and she shook and shivered with remorse all the rest of the day. We comforted her as well as we could by saying he must have died immediately (for dead he was without any doubt), and he had fallen on a spot where the sea would carry away all remains of him before morning.

The little ones looked at poor trembling aunt Sib with the greatest admiration, Gatty with envy and jealousy, while Serena, like a true tender-hearted little sister, comforted and kissed her, telling her how gentle, good, and kind she was to everybody, and what a good thing she had done for us, and how, perhaps, this was the identical pirate who had stolen her, and that she was not to be unhappy at what perhaps we might all have to do ere long. And this set us talking upon our plans.

"Don't you think, captain," said Schillie, "we may get off to the ship to-night?"

Captain.—"We must try, Madam. If they should chance to go on board, they will find out how busy we have been there, and they will then take measures to prevent us executing any such plan. But I have lost my right hand in Smart."

Gatty and Oscar.—"Oh, captain, send me for the boat. I can swim like a duck, and it's not a hundred yards from here."

Mother.—"My dear children, the sharks."

Oscar.—"I don't mind them, Mother."

Gatty.—"They will have a good mouthful if they swallow me; and if I am as troublesome inside a shark as you, little Mother, say I sometimes am here, I shall not agree with him at all."

Schillie.—"Now, Gatty, I won't have you running into any danger. I don't mean to say you are not extremely troublesome, but still I have got used to you, and I won't have you expose yourself to any danger."

Captain.—"I think I can manage to make them both of use, and yet without much danger, I trust. I would not have a hair of their precious heads lost."

Gatty flushed up like the setting sun with pleasure; Oscar nodded in approbation, while I said, "Then it is decided, at all events, we get off to-night, if we can."

"Man proposes, and God disposes."

"Sister, look," said Serena, in a low sorrowful voice. Ah me, did I see rightly? With every sail set, that ominous, black, hateful vessel, the pirate ship, hove in sight, and ere we could collect our senses, or believe our eyes, she was anchoring in the bay.



CHAPTER XLII.

We sat down on the carpet of desperation and the stools of despair.

The pirates on shore seemed as bewildered as we were. The pirates on board seemed in a great state of confusion and uproar. A general running, hurrying, and scurrying took place among them all.

While those of the ship pointed vehemently to the sea, they of the land gesticulated violently towards the caverns, and both were equally eccentric in their observations regarding us. At last regular parties were organized, who began systematically, at the same time with the utmost rapidity, to unload their vessel; while the pirate king, hoisting a white flag, and attended by a few ferocious-looking followers, advanced towards our rock. By the captain's advice we hoisted a white rag of some sort, as a token of friendship, and in silence waited the result.

In bad French the pirate captain offered us terms for capitulation. He pointed out how useless it was for us now to think of repelling such numbers. That if we would come down quietly, we should be received with open arms ("and cut throats," murmured some one behind me); that they would engage their most sacred word of honour they would do us no harm ("much honour in a pirate," murmured the same voice); that there was plenty of room on the island for us all, and that we might choose which side we pleased, and they would take the other. All they wanted was peace and our friendship.

Our dear captain shook his head at all this civility, and fairly laughed at the offer of friendship. But he turned, as in duty bound, being spokesman, to take our opinion.

Simultaneously we all rose together, and letting the pirates have a full and perfect view of our whole party (save the two invalids) for the first time, with one voice we all exclaimed, "No! no!" Though evidently surprised at seeing what a helpless party we were, it yet seemed to give him but greater zest to persuade us to come down.

His offers became more generous, his civilities greater, his promises most profuse and tempting, but, invariably and simultaneously, without waiting for our captain's appeal, rose the decided "No! no!"

With subdued oaths and imprecations he left us, having been several times interrupted by urgent entreaties from his companions. Leaving some young boys to watch us, he repaired to his companions, and they now seemed wholly occupied in emptying the ship and stowing everything away in the caverns. The bay was one scene of activity and bustle.

We sat quiet, knowing that night was drawing on, when our last effort for escape must be made.

Oscar.—"Captain, you never told us what happened to you in the caverns, and how Smart found you."

Captain.—"I found him, Sir, instead of his finding me. I kept the entrance blocked up as long as I could, but I could not get a good shot at any of the enemy on account of that demented woman, who was always in the way. It was enough that as fast as they took out one stone I piled up another, until, finding that they were getting too many for me, and knowing that you had had ample time to place yourselves in safety, I swung myself up by the rope to the top of the cavern, and, drawing it up, I lay there concealed, watching their movements. Such a pandemonium scene I never beheld. Luckily their eagerness, curiosity, and excitement made them forget Mrs. Hargrave, who sat down and howled like a hungry cat, not, however, before she had discovered to them every secret corner, by running madly to look for you. I suppose, for her sake, we must allow, poor woman, she is a little touched in the brain, for I found her, after everything was quiet, and the pirates had gone down to look for you, looking over some musty old caps and bonnets, and fitting up for herself a bundle of clothes. I suggested a little food and water would be more useful, but she stopped my mouth by saying it was her duty to appear decent and tidy for her mistress's sake. And such trouble I had with her besides. I am persuaded that woman would never be guided by mortal tongue. Many times I thought to leave her to her fate and to go and see after you, but she was so unfit to be left, I had not the heart to do so. Nevertheless, after getting her out of the caverns up on the top, in a well-concealed place, where we could see nicely all round, she escaped me, for what reason neither she or any one else could tell I think, and I lay quiet until night, when, venturing down to see if I could join you all, after a while I heard a noise just nigh me, and, hiding behind a tree, I looked out, and presently spied a great big fellow, standing six feet two, before me. I knew Smart in a moment, dark as it was, but, having a mind to startle him, I took hold of his leg. Laws me, Sirs, you should have seen how he jumped. I am sure the good old lady could not have been more alarmed. The rest you know."

Felix.—"Poor Smart, I dare say you took hold of that very leg that's now wounded. Do you know, Smart, Otty and I had our right and left shots."

Smart.—"Had you so, Sir. Well, I hopes you both killed your birds."

Felix.—"No, for unluckily we both shot at the same fellow, but we knocked him over clean. We frightened them in an awful way, but cousin Schillie would not shoot."

Smart.—"How cumed that about I wonder. I reckoned her a prime one."

Felix.—"She was frightened, Smart."

Smart.—"Oh no, Sir, I'll never believe that."

Felix.—"Oh, but she was. I saw her shut her eyes when we all had to shoot together, and she did not open them for a good minute after."

Schillie.—"Good lack, captain, what is going to happen now?"

Boats were approaching La Luna. The pirates boarded her, and, after half an hour's work, her anchors were taken up, and she was towed to the other side of the bay, and there made secure.

Night set not in more darkly than the gloom that fell upon our hearts. We could but leave our fates in the hand of a good and merciful Providence.



CHAPTER XLIII.

The whole night long the pirates worked hard, doing what we could not see, neither could our captain at all understand their conduct. "If it was not too good to be true, they have been chased," said he, "and have come into harbour to hide. Did anyone look over the sea?" he continued. No, we had all been too much engaged.

Captain.—"Then the first thing I shall do on the dawn will be to scan the sea. Something unusual must have occurred to put the pirates to all this pother."

With the first streak of day came the pirate captain with his flag of truce, and again made his offers of peace, friendship, and civility, and again met with a vehement negative, though most forlorn were now our hopes and fortunes. To our surprise we now only saw La Luna. There was not a vestige of the pirate ship.

The pirate king had now recourse to threats, which we heard in disdainful silence. After spending half an hour in oaths and threats, he waved his hand, and, stamping with anger, pointed to La Luna. "I give you one hour," he cried, "if by that time you do not come down voluntarily, I intend sweeping the top of your rock with those two guns." We looked towards the vessel; she had been brought within gun shot, and her brass cannons were placed directly before us. "I know," continued the pirate, "who you all are, and I have no wish to harm you, but rather to gain the rewards offered for your recovery. Be persuaded and be reasonable."

Mother.—"Captain, what do you think, what shall we do, he speaks fair?"

Captain.—"Madam, we must not trust him. I feel sure they have some reason for this bustle and activity all night, and I feel persuaded they have scuttled their ship and sunk her. Look round, and you will see that when they retire into the caverns, there is not a trace of human beings about save our own vessel, and that looks weather-beaten and old enough to have been riding at anchor there for ages. No doubt they have concealed all traces of themselves in her. If they get us down they will use us as hostages for their own safety, or they may murder us at once, and thus leave no one to tell the tale of the caverns. As long as we are alive that secret cannot be kept, and, having made a settlement here, I think there is every probability that they will commit any crime sooner than suffer such a convenient and suitable stronghold for them to be discovered. I trust them not, let us trust in God."

Mother.—"And you, Schillie, tell me what do you advise?"

Schillie rose up, and drawing me to the highest part of the rock, turned her broad white forehead to the ship, while her clear eyes, darkened in their beauty by the emotions of the hour, looked steadily down into the mouths of the guns.

Schillie.—"June, do you believe that the spirits of the departed know what occurs on earth, and with unseen forms can visit those they love?"

June.—"I hold some such doctrine, my Schillie, but whether there is truth in it or not, the departed alone can tell."

Schillie.—"I'll put faith in your doctrine, my mistress, and think that in an hour I may behold my children, though unseen by them."

June.—"And is it this feeling that makes you gaze so boldly into the jaws that are so shortly to breathe forth death to us?"

Schillie.—"It may be so, or it may be the strength given from on high for such emergencies as these. In this awful hour I feel no fear; a sacred calm is filling my heart. My God, I feel Thou art near; Thou knowest this is not presumption that I bow me in humility before Thy throne, that I approach it under the shadow of my Saviour's wing."

I gazed in her face, flushed with ardour, refulgent with her inspired feelings, and thought her half way to heaven already.

June.—"My Schillie, ere you go, take my thanks take my heartfelt gratitude with you for all you have been to me."

Schillie.—"We go together, June, we shall not be separated in the happy pasture fields of our immortal shepherd. You will come with me to gaze on my children, and whisper holy dreams of goodness and truth into their childish ears to prepare them for the burdens of life, such as we have gone through. Our fates in life were thrown together, and the last act of mercy received from our gracious Father is this, that we die together."

June.—"But with my mortal lips and mortal heart receive my thanks, for, without you, what should I have done? Without your brave heart and good spirit to help me I must have given way. Without your hopeful, strong, and Godly mind I, guilty of ungrateful murmurs, should have forfeited the right of comfort from on high. Ah! my Schillie, take my thanks, for next to my Father, Saviour, God in heaven, what do I not owe to you?"

Schillie.—"Enough, enough, we give and take in this world. Our obligations to each other are mutual. We have an eternity before us to settle the debt between us. Our time on earth draws to a close. It is fit we prepare the young and weak for the fate they seem hardly to realize."

June.—"I shrink from them. Oh, my Schillie, do me a last act of kindness, and keep them from my sight."

Schillie.—"Nay, rouse yourself, and remember you take all you love with you."

June.—"But such a death! and they so young, so beloved, so lovely and gifted, to die in so horrible a manner."

Schillie.—"Then think of the fate you would have them live for. But one hour of mental agony, and they are safe in their Saviour's arms."

June.—"And, oh, Schillie, one more horrible fear I have. Suppose those dreadful guns do not fully complete their dreadful work. Think if some are left, wounded and maimed, yet more wounded in heart at the death of those they loved."

Schillie.—"Call them, and give each their choice."

They came, but it was only to group themselves in one close embrace about us. They replied not to the words we uttered, but looking as fearlessly as Schillie did down on the brazen mouths of death, they turned their loving eyes in unutterable affection towards us. The beaming light of Schillie's countenance seemed reflected on each young face, until we thought an halo of glory already surrounded them.

The two men tenderly lifted up Madame, and laid her moaning and unconscious at our feet, and then placed themselves on each side of the group.

"See," said Schillie, half smiling and waving her hand, "your last fear is groundless, it will take but one of those cannon to deliver us all at the same moment from this mortal coil. Let us lift up our hearts to God."



CHAPTER XLIV.

The minutes fled. Ever and anon a group of pirates would advance, and, as they gazed, pity, remorse, and even admiration seemed to blend in their swarthy countenances, as they looked at the motionless helpless group. Evidently reluctant to give the fatal signal for death, the pirate captain restlessly paced to and fro, only taking his eyes from us to look hurriedly on the sea. The hour was gone. The boat shot from the shore, bearing the fatal messengers of death. The pirate captain clenched his hands, and hurried up and down, like one in despair. Sometimes he looked as if he would speak to us, then turned more quickly away.

Our hearts beat audibly to each other. "May God take us into His safe keeping this hour," murmured the low earnest voice of our dear captain. "Amen," was fervently uttered by all that could speak.

Still the pirate captain wavered and hesitated; but what made our captain start? A body of pirates came forward, and drawing their chief away, began expostulating with him, and we heard a sound behind us. "For the love of God move not," said the captain; but every ear listened.

As the sun gilds one cloud after another in rapid succession, rising higher and higher, so did one face after another illumine with hope and deliverance as the sound became more audible. We had heard it before, but, oh, so long ago, could it have been in our dreams? It seemed so familiar, yet we had never heard it on the island. It sounded so homelike, though our own home was far inland. But to British ears and British hearts could such a sound be unknown? The long, measured, steady stroke of the oars of a man-of-war's boat broke upon our happy senses; and yet we were silent, as if turned to stone. The conviction of our safety and deliverance sent the once-burthened hearts in silent thankfulness to the foot of God.

"Avast there! keep under the shelter of this rock," said a man's deep voice, in a subdued tone, "it won't do to run right into the mouths of these blackguards without a little reconnoitering." Our captain crept silently to the side from whence the voice proceeded and hailed them. "Hollo! here's a fellow up here, we had better settle him at once, lest he gives the alarm," said the deep voice.

This made us all move quickly to the same place, and, as we caught sight of the gallant sailors, who, though strangers to us, seemed each to possess the features of dear and long-lost friends, our feelings could scarcely be restrained. An intuitive feeling that we might, by some rash movement, lose the heavenly chance just opening to our view, kept us in iron bounds. As it was, a sort of hub-bub did ensue, they not understanding who we were, and we caring for nothing on this near approach of delivery. But our captain swung himself down by the rope ladder into the boat, while we eagerly drank in every word of the precious voices and language we had thought never to hear again, while he explained our situation. "What, the missing family so long sought for, so deeply mourned? Now God be praised. Up there four days, battling it out. Well done! Those blackguards shall have it double-fold. What an innocent boy with his big hat; who is the pretty child? Is that all her own hair? I say, which is the Mother? She is tall enough for a grenadier. Poor things, poor souls; what sufferings, what privations. All by themselves. Hah! indeed, joined only the last year. Well, we are heart and soul at their service. Are they all ladies, or some servants? What rum dresses. They look very picturesque up there, and you, boatswain, must make a sketch of them for us to take home when we have settled these pirates. Is that a boy or a girl? she's a whopper if she is a female. That short one looks cool enough to face any danger. But don't let us waste more time, we are burning to be at them. How shall we manage? Blown to pieces in five minutes; I'm blowed if you shall. D——n those (ah, ladies, I beg pardon). No, no, we will attack them at once. Too few, not a bit; as if a dozen English sailors could not knock over two score of pirates, and eat them too. Well, just as you like, only be quick; as for restraining my men, I shall not be able to do that long, especially as I know I can't hold in much longer myself."

Such was the disjointed conversation that reached our ears, and which we drank in with such delight. Our captain swung himself up again, and said that another boat's crew were expected in a few minutes; and though the sailors in this boat scouted the notion of not being able to settle the pirates' business themselves, yet it would be as well to make assurance doubly sure, on account of the savage nature of the pirates. They might be driven to desperation when they saw what succour we had received.

Schillie.—"Captain, you must make haste, they are on board the vessel and loading the guns; in a few minutes we shall be scattered into a thousand pieces."

Captain.—"What I advise is, as there is no time to lose, hold out a flag of truce, and capitulate."

"Oh no, captain," said many of us.

"You must, indeed you must; make haste. Come, begin to go down at once. Those devildoms are only too rejoiced they have got their captain's consent, and are going to lose no time. Come, don't lose your courage at the last hour, you will be in their power but a few minutes. That's a sweet brave girl, now she is down you will all go."



This latter remark was addressed to Serena, whom I tried to grasp as she lightly sprang down. We all followed, save Schillie and the two invalids. The pirates shouted with great deafening shouts, and ran towards us, rudely grasping hold of us as we each descended. We shuddered and shrieked with horror. The pirate king ran and brought Schillie down in spite of her struggles. The captain was instantly seized, and would have been roughly treated, but the sailors, unable to hear our cries and not help us, shot round the corner like a flash of lightning, and, ere the pirates were aware of their presence, mixed in the melee, cutlass in hand.

Though at first the sailors gained an instantaneous advantage, the numbers against them were so great and the pirates so desperate, that much blood must have been shed and a fierce battle fought, but another boat appeared round the rock, most vigorously propelled, another, and again another. Now we were saved, God be praised! No more doubts, no more fears. We withdrew to a sheltered place on the cliffs, thankful, oh, how thankful God alone can tell. The pirates fled in every direction, but not before our captain, raising his gun, sent a shot after the pirate king that put an end to his reign and his love for ever.



CHAPTER XLV.

An officer was sent to take our wishes, while the other sailors, with their captain and lieutenants, proceeded to pursue and exterminate the pirates. The fresh boats' crews being so eager in the chase that they knew nothing more about us than that some prisoners had been found. The captain, therefore, politely sent an officer to attend to us, with a message to say he was too busy to do so himself. We learnt from this officer that our captain's conjecture was quite true about the pirate vessel having been chased; and they knew well enough that, once seeing them, Capt. Bute would scour the sea in search of them.

They made for "YR YNYS UNYG" as a last chance, knowing that few but themselves were aware that the great Anaconda was dead, and they trusted that the fear of it would prevent any one from landing on the island.

Their intentions were all frustrated by finding us all perched upon the rock, and it became a matter of policy to get rid of us somehow. They were unwilling to harm us at first, wishing to reap a golden harvest by claiming the rewards for our recovery; but our obstinacy in refusing to come down drove the pirate captain much beyond his own wishes. Had Capt. Bute's boats been half an hour later there would have been but little of our sad remains left. To his eagerness and skill in following the pirate vessel, and anchoring the Turtle side of the island under cover of the night, we, humanly speaking, owed our lives. May God be praised for all his mercies.

Madame and Smart were first to be considered. It was agreed they must both be taken on board the man-of-war for medical advice. I was to go with them, and Felix was to accompany me to attend on Smart. The rest were to be employed in making preparations for our final departure, besides getting La Luna ready for our once more taking possession of her.

But we had never been separated before for more than a few hours, and the leave taking was quite a business. So I promised to return in the evening, after seeing Madame and Smart comfortable and well cared for. We must talk over our joys as well as sorrows, and, hearing that there were some ladies and servants on board, I the more readily agreed to return. Madame was let down from the rock with great difficulty, utterly unconscious of anything but her own delicious thoughts.

In Turtle harbour, not a mile from our memorable bay, we found the ship, and it was with indescribable emotion that I climbed on to her deck. With the tenderness of women the kind sailors lifted up the invalids, while I was shewn down into the cabin to beseech the good offices of the ladies in it. There were two of them; one reclining on a sofa, hearing a little girl read, whose golden hair hung round her fair face, as the glory surrounds the cherubim; the other and oldest of the two was sketching from the cabin window. The lovely fair face of the recumbent one was raised as I entered.

Why did I start? Have I seen that face before, those calm clear blue eyes, the delicately-formed nose, the beautiful expression? Be calm, my heart, beat not so wildly. "Poor woman, she is ill, what is the matter with her?" said the lady at the window. I knew her too, so well, so perfectly, I wondered she could speak so calmly to me. I forgot my strange appearance, my island dress, my grizzled hair, and brow burnt by the ardent sun.

The younger lady gazed at me, but said nothing. "Pray be seated," said the sweet soft voice of the sketcher, "you look so ill, I will bring you some water." The other lady still gazed, was still silent, but she half rose from her sofa. I could not withdraw my eyes from the well-known face, but I grasped the kind hand that placed the chair for me, while my breath laboured under the convulsive swellings of my heart. "She must be one of the pirate women, and some of her people have been killed," said the elder lady. "Pray, Meta speak to her, and don't gaze at her so fixedly."

I tried to speak, it was impossible. I clung to the one sister, and held out my hand imploringly to the other. She sprang up, and rushed towards me. She pushed my hair from my forehead; her colour came and went like the evening clouds. "Oh, June, June, my sister, my beloved one, it must be you. I cannot be mistaken. I should know that face through every change. Speak to me, speak but one word, call me by my name, if only to ease my heart. My long-lost, my own sister, relieve me, relieve my bursting heart."

Faintly breathing the word "Meta," I remember no more. I sunk upon the ground, but I felt loved arms round me, and the bliss of heaven seemed to take possession of my senses. I awoke to the blessed reality my loving sisters were near me, they soothed me with sweet words, kissed me with sisters' kisses, asked nothing, said nothing but endearing sentences, and suffered my overburdened heart to relieve itself to the full.

The anxieties and cares of the past years, the fear and anguish of the last few days, rolled away like a dark cloud from my troubled brain, while peace, happiness, and rest flooded my heart to overflowing. The transition from utter misery to perfect bliss seemed too much for me at first; I had not felt until then the forlorn and hopeless state to which we had been reduced, and how death in its most dreadful form had nearly severed all I lived for from the earth they were so formed to enjoy and ornament. But, it is idle thus to write, joy does not often kill, so having seen our invalids well cared for, and introduced my lovely little savage boy to his aunts, my beloved sisters accompanied me back to my companions. We found the whole of the pirate gang secured, and going on board La Luna, ah! what joy. The surprise, the ecstasy, the happy welcome, the boundless joy, the innumerable questions. It is impossible to describe it.

We found we owed the meeting with our beloved relatives to the following circumstance:—After my brother's leave was up, and his ship's commission expired, instead of spending his time at home, he, with Sir Walter Mayton, chartered a vessel and determined between them to spend all the time his services were not required by his Queen in searching for us. My two sisters had begged to accompany them, one with her husband and children, and my eldest sister to be her companion. The Esperanza, their vessel, was something similar to La Luna, only larger and carrying six guns. They had been out six months, when, owing to the Esperanza requiring some little repairs, the party, consisting of my two sisters, Mr. J., and the children, accepted Capt. Bute's invitation to take a little cruise with him. He was in command of her Majesty's S. H., which had superseded my brother's ship on the piratical coast.

Accidentally coming across the pirates' vessel, Capt. Bute had given chase, and pursued her so sharply, that, under cover of the night, he had got the H. into safe anchorage on the lea side of the island without the pirates' knowledge. The rest of the tale has been told.



CHAPTER XLVI.

And now we were all on board La Luna, Capt. Bute spared us a crew; he remains behind to settle everything about the island, and to go afterwards to the other rendezvous of the pirates, there to rescue the remainder of our crew should they yet survive. Our captain gave him all particulars where to find it.

But we were not to be separated from our newly found relatives. Oh no! they came with us. We collected everything we wished to take from the island; the children's endless parrots, monkeys, shells, and pet things. Schillie took nothing, but her last act was to stoop down, and take a lengthened draught from the lovely stream. Florence, my eldest sister, made sketches of every place interesting to us, and, finally, we bade adieu to "YR YNYS UNYG." Seated on the deck we saw the lovely island fade from our sight, with mixed feelings certainly but no regret. We had none for it, because we could only think of the happiness opening before us. The lost were found, the deeply-mourned restored, the mother given back to her little ones, the fondly-loved children to their sorrowing parents. There was rapture in these thoughts. No wonder that our little home, our little haven of so many conflicting emotions, faded from our sight for ever without a tear from any eye.

We were to shape our course so as to fall in with the Esperanza, which we did in about ten days. During those days fancy alone can paint the innumerable questions asked, the pang and half fear ere they were answered. We lived a life time, it seemed, in those ten days.

We had had no opportunity of restoring our pretty La Luna to her original beauty, therefore we did not wonder (my brother being on board, and we looking so practical) that the Esperanza bore down upon us in a menacing and warlike manner.

We submissively struck our colours, and ere long were boarded by my brother and Sir Walter Mayton. At the request of my sisters we all remained below, that they might have a little amusement. But it was hardly possible for us to wait. However, my brother quickly put an end to the suspense himself; for, in his quick decisive manner, down he came into the cabin, requesting to see the ship's papers. And, what papers did he see? The whole party in the cabin! He gave but one look, he comprehended it all, and, ere I thought it could be him, he had wrapt me in his arms; he wept with joy and thankfulness, and he could not cease to gaze at us all with unutterable emotions of pleasure. We forgot Sir Walter Mayton until we heard his well-known firm tread stamping above, as if impatient at the Captain's delay. We determined to have a little amusement with him, and yet not keep him long in suspense. We sent the two boys up, and watched the effect. He started, and looked keenly at them, he threw his cigar away, and then we heard his loud cheery voice say, "Whose boys are you?" They said nothing, but each took hold of a kind hand, and smiled up in his face.

"Boys, I bid you tell me, who you are," and his voice husky, while we could see he trembled.

"It is us uncle, dear uncle, here we are all safe," and throwing their arms round his neck, they half smothered him with kisses, Lilly joining her brothers.

"But your Mother, my children, are you all safe? have I none to answer for?" "All safe, quite safe," said I, appearing immediately.

"Ready to thank you for all you have done for us, the weary years we have been away. For your kind thoughts, your indefatigable exertions, we are here to thank you, and prove our gratitude by acts as well as thanks." "Thank God, Thank God," he said. "This hour repays me for all my care."

And now what happiness, nothing to mar it, but a few gales of wind, which only blew us nearer to the homes our hearts longed for. Madame was nearly well, Smart only limped a little, and was in high spirits at hearing that not only was Mrs. Smart alive and well, but that Jem had become a young gamekeeper, and they had wanted for nothing during his absence.

"So you were right Master Felix, about the washing, she has done well at that," said Smart, "and a mighty good washer she be, sending me out with shirts as white as any Lord's."

We sailed in company, and it was hard to say which ship contained the merriest party, La Luna or the Esperanza.

We touched at St. Helena, and there picked up another brother to our great delight and pleasure.

The ships were gazetted there as the Esperanza and her consort, that the news of it getting to England before we did might prepare the beloved family in some degree for what was in store.



THE LAST CHAPTER.

Once more we will return to that pretty drawing-room, and visit the kind sisters, the grey-headed father, the loving mother.

Her sweet calm face had lost its painful expression; years have gone by; time has come with its healing wings; she is nearer the hour when a meeting with the lost ones may be promised her in heaven. One sister is married and gone. The dark-haired sister is as usual employed in making brilliant flowers grow beneath her skilful fingers, like the magic work of the fairies. The pretty face of the other beams with content and sweetness. The door opens, and the grey-headed Father appears with the newspapers.

"My dear," says he, "what can this mean? Here is the Esperanza mentioned on her way home to England with her consort."

The Mother.—"Oh no, that must be a mistake. She has no consort; besides we do not expect our Esperanza home for six months at least."

The Father.—"But you see it is in the ships' news. 'The brig Esperanza, Capt. C., touched at St. Helena with her consort, and brings home Capt. C. of the Royal Engineers.'"

The Mother.—"There really seems no mistake indeed, especially Bertrand's having joined his brother. I suppose Richard must have captured some pirate or slaver's vessel. You know he took out a license to do so."

The Father.—"Very likely; but still I think we should have seen some account of the exploit in the papers if he had done so."

Emily.—"Especially the Esperanza being a private vessel. I really think, Mama, it must be a mistake."

The door opens, and the best and kindest aunt in the world appears, who, having no children of her own, opens her large heart, and takes in those of her only sister's.

The Aunt.—"Don't be surprised to see me, but my husband has seen in to-day's paper that the Esperanza is coming home. I thought, sister, they were to have been absent a year?"

The Mother.—"So I expected, and we are quite puzzled about it, having seen the news as well as yourself. I am almost inclined to agree with Emily that it is a mistake."

The dear Aunt.—"Then I am miserably disappointed. When I heard it I was in the greatest hope you would have some news to tell me, so I ordered Osman and the brougham, and came here so fast that I am quite in fear for the dear fellow. Cecy, pray let me ask you for a little bread to give him, and do come down and look at him, he is in such beauty that Robert is quite proud of him."

So they all went down to look at the beloved horse, and Robert the groom heard him praised to his heart's content.

The dear Aunt.—"Well, now then, sister, I will say farewell, but we will do what you so kindly wish us, and come to-morrow for the whole week; by this means we shall be on the spot to hear the earliest news if you get any, for I must own I cannot bear suspense, and my Florence being in the Esperanza doubles my anxieties."

The Mother.—"We shall be charmed to see you, dear sister, so, until then, farewell."

On the morrow, the kind aunt and uncle were not the only visitors. Little Winny's father and mother, uncle Parry, the "next heir," all came pouring in, as well as innumerable letters from kind and anxious friends; but still no news by the post.

They had all seen the report of the Esperanza, and all had flocked to B——, as head quarters, to learn what had brought her home so much sooner than was expected. However, they were invited to remain the week out at that ever open most hospitable mansion.

In the middle of the week came Gatty's beloved parents. Zoe's father and mother lived so near that they could have daily intercourse; so daily everybody met, daily everybody talked, and daily everybody agreed that it was all a mistake, and that this Esperanza was not their Esperanza.

The summer is coming on rapidly. It is the 2nd of June, the golden laburnums hang their rich pendant clusters over the fragrant lilacs, all nature seemed rejoicing, and every tree had its living chorus, for no noisy gun or treacherous snare was ever heard or seen in that pretty garden.

"I don't mean to stay in the house this lovely evening," said Gatty's father. "Come Emily, come Julie, let us sit out on the lawn, and smell the fresh wholesome scent of the earth, and hear this delightful evening hymn of the birds. But do you expect company? Here is a carriage, and surely another behind it. No! it stops. But do my eyes deceive me? Who is in this first carriage? The dear crew of the Esperanza! Welcome, welcome. Bertrand too. My dear girls how well you look. Ah, Sir Walter, welcome, welcome home."

They are clasped in the arms of everybody, and welcomed home, as those who go to B—— are generally welcomed. The new brother also, after six years' absence in New Zealand. Everybody seems overwhelmed with delight and pleasure. Whatever curiosity, whatever wonder, whatever fear might have run through the heart of each at seeing the beloved crew of the Esperanza so much sooner than was expected, all was now swallowed up in the joy of seeing them.

The old and valued servants crowded to meet them, and congratulate them on their safe return. "My goodness me," said Anne, the housekeeper, after she had made her courtesies and said her say, "if the great gates are not open and the beggars coming in. Oh, Thomas, (turning to the dear aunt's servant) whatever must we do, what a queer set. Be off, good people. I must see for some men to turn them out. I don't think really that they can be anything respectable. None of our people would peep and look in like that. I cannot make them out at all, Thomas. They have a look about them anyways but respectable."

Thomas.—"To be sure, Anne, they look Furrineers, and they never is so neat and trim as our people."

Anne.—"Furrineers, then, Thomas, help me to turn them out, we wants nothing but English here. Be off, good people, be off, we harbours no vermin here. Eh, but they're a strange set."

My brother ran to her. "Don't disturb those people, Anne, they are very good people," said he.

Anne.—"But so unmannerly, Mr. Bertrand, coming in at such a particklar time."

Mr. Bertrand.—"Never mind, Anne, they are friends of mine."

Anne.—"Friends of yours, oh, indeed, Sir; well we did not know that, Thomas, did we? and how could we guess, so queer as they look. Surely now Mr. Bernard, you have never been and gone and brought home some New Zealand savages?"

Mr. Bertrand.—"Yes, Anne, I have, and that tall woman in the hat is to be my wife."

Anne.—"Oh my goodness me, Mr. Bertrand, none of your jokes to me if you please, Sir. I don't believe a word you say, Sir, and the more I look at them people the more I am sure they are no friends of yours, Sir. Such outlandish folk, in them big hats and those long bed-gownish things, they are not respectable. I must——"

Mr. Bertrand.—"Hush, hush, Anne, they are dear friends of mine; wait, wait just a few minutes; hearken now to what my brother says to your master."

With trembling voice the dear brother was making the aged Father understand; Meta threw herself sobbing with delight into the arms of the long-mourning Mother, trying to tell her of the joy that yet remained to be told; Florence, with sweet touching voice, was preparing the dear enthusiastic aunt. Everybody was beginning to feel and know that there was something still to tell, some event yet to occur, something much beyond what they had yet felt or experienced. But who could look in the agitated faces of the travellers and not see that it was joy which so overcame them? Who could see the radiant smiles shining through the irrepressible tears and not feel a thrill of happiness shoot through them?

And the poor beggars at the great gate, why were they in tears? why so agitated? Oh, make haste, they cannot wait much longer, their impatience is boundless. Think how many years they have been deprived of the sight of those sweet faces, the hearing those dear voices, the feeling those soft kisses. Gatty, Gatty, startle not your Father so, restrain your impatience; he wonders now. Who calls, that wild and passionate "Papa, Papa." Just a few short moments to wait. See, see, my Mother's eyes; she must know now, she is prepared. Almost before the signal is given, before the arms are open, Zoe rushes to her Mother. Winny, Schillie, Gatty (the first of all, with a bound like an antelope) all fly to their own people, and we three, Sybil, Serena, and I, into whose arms we fell I know not; I remember nothing, I can tell nothing but that I heard my grey-headed Father, in a low, distinct, and solemn manner, say—

"Now, Lord, lettest Thou Thy servant depart this life in peace."

FINIS.



Transcriber's Endnotes:

The original publication contained many typographical errors. Minor misprints have been corrected without note, however the following amendments deserve further note:

Chapter Titles

The original sequence skipped the numbers 10, 26, 31, 37, 38 whilst using 39 twice. With no discrepancy in the page numbers, the chapters have been renumbered to avoid confusion.

Hargrave/Havord

The character initially introduced as Hargrave is referred to as Havord from Chapter XXIX to part-way through Chapter XXXVI. In light of the poor typography throughout the book, all instances of Havord have been changed to Hargrave.

THE END