tupids to be astonished at
all!"

"How, in what way?" asked Fritz. "Why, the strange boat must have come
from Tristan d'Acunha. Don't you recollect, we were told that a party
always came sealing here, as well as at Nightingale Island, during the
summer?"

"Oh yes; I forgot," said Fritz. "I wonder, though, you didn't see their
boat pass your look-out station--you, with your fine observant eyes!"

"Ah, they must have come round to leeward of the promontory, close under
the land," replied Eric to this taunt:--"that is how they escaped my
notice. But, what shall we do now--go on, or return home?"

"It strikes me we had better go home, for we shall have uncommon little
sport to-day, since they have been first in the field!" said Fritz
dryly. "Still, I suppose we'd better be friendly with them. Let us go
on to shore first before leaving, and have a chat. No doubt, they'll be
as much surprised to see us as we were just now at their unexpected
appearance here."

"Well, I don't know about that," observed Eric. "I should think young
Glass would have told them about our having settled here."

"But, I asked him not to mention it," replied Fritz, "and, as he seemed
a very decent sort of young fellow, I dare say he has obeyed my wish--
especially as he was your friend, you know."

"It's all right then," said Eric; "my Tristaner would be certain to keep
his word if he promised it. Let us proceed now and astonish them with
our presence, which must therefore, as you say, be quite unexpected."

"Pull away then, brother."

"Right you are!" said Eric in response; and the two, putting their backs
into the oars, the boat was soon speeding to the point where the
islanders were gathered in a group on the shore--far too busy with the
seals they had shot to notice their approach.

"Now," cried Fritz, when they were close to the others, although still
unobserved, "let us give them a call."

"Shout away!" said Eric; when, he and his brother joining their voices,
they gave utterance to a ringing hail that must have frightened all the
fish near.

"Boat ahoy!"

The party on shore, who had their backs turned seawards, jumped round at
this as if they had been shot; but soon, an answering hail assured them
that some one amongst the islanders had recognised them.

"Hillo, whar be you sprung from?" inquired a voice with a strong nasal
twang.

It was that of Nat Slater, the "deck hand" of the Rhode Island
steamboat!

Fritz wa