ow thankful I am that you are
getting better, and know me."

The reply was very distinct, but so are often replies in dreams. Just
then I heard a voice which came down the skylight, giving an order to
the crew in an authoritative tone: it was that of my father, I was sure.

"Why, Edith, how has it all happened?" I asked; "is it a reality, or am
I still dreaming?"

"It is all real, I assure you," answered Edith. "I must call mamma.
Oh, how thankful she will be! We were afraid sometimes that you would
not get better, and poor Pierce has been so unhappy, and so have I; but
papa said he knew that you would recover, and we ought to have
remembered that he is always right. And now you must get well as fast
as you can."

As she said this, I began to be convinced that I was awake, and that
Edith really stood by my side. I did not detain her; and in another
minute my mother was bending over me, and folding me in her arms, just
as she had done the night before I came to sea. In a short time Pierce
made his appearance, but was only allowed to remain a few seconds. Then
my father came down, and said a few words expressive of his happiness;
and then Edith, who had gone away, returned with a cup of broth, with
which my mother fed me just as she had done when I was a baby.

I wanted at once to know how it had all happened, and what had brought
my family out into the Pacific.

"It is a long story, and you are not strong enough to listen to it now,"
answered my mother; "we will tell you in good time. One thing I may
say: we were providentially sent to rescue you and your companions."

"Are they all right?" I asked. "Have Mudge, and Harry, and Tom, and
Popo been saved?"

"Mr Mudge has almost recovered; and the rest are, I trust, out of
danger, though at first they appeared even weaker than you were,"
answered my mother. "Mr Mudge has told us Harry's interesting history.
Your father knows Captain Hudson, who is an old shipmate, and he will
do his best to restore the long-lost boy to his parents. However, we
must not talk more at present. Go to sleep again. Our medical book
says, that the more a person exhausted as you have been can sleep, the
sooner he will get well."

My mother having arranged a shawl over my shoulders, and bidding Edith
sit down out of sight, glided out of the cabin. When I tried to talk,
Edith only answered, "Hush!" and in a few minutes I was again asleep.

I do not know how it would have fa