d Fritz, quite
disappointed. "I hope nothing has happened to him."

"We'll soon know," replied Eric. "If I mistake not this very schooner,
which is evidently going to call here, is the _Jane_. I know her by
that queer patch in her jib; and, if that's the case, she is one of the
consorts of the _Pilot's Bride_ and will be bound to be able to tell us
something about her."

"I sincerely hope so," said Fritz.

The two then remained silent for some time, watching the approaching
vessel; but they took the precaution to run down their whale-boat to the
beach, so as to be ready to put off as soon as the visitor should come
near enough for them to board her.

In a short time, bowling up before a good breeze, although it seemed
hours to them, they were so anxious, the schooner lay-to off the bay,
hoisting her flag as a signal that she wished to communicate. But, long
before the bunting had been run up to the masthead, the brothers had
launched their boat and were pulling out towards the vessel, which did
not anchor, for there was a heavy ground swell on--this latter, indeed,
cost them, too, some trouble in getting their little craft out to sea,
the rolling surge first lifting her up and then plunging her down so
that everything was hidden from them for the moment by a wall of water
on either side.

However, they managed to get through the waves somehow; and, presently,
they were alongside the schooner,--pulling in under her stern, whence a
rope was hove them to get on board by.

An active-looking, slim, seamanlike young fellow advanced to them as
they scrambled on the schooner's deck; and Eric appeared to recognise
him.

"Hullo, Captain Fuller," he said, "where's the _Pilot's Bride_ and the
old skipper?"

"I'm sorry you won't see him this trip," replied the other. "The barque
got damaged in a gale off the African coast a month ago: so, she had to
put into the Cape of Good Hope for repairs, which'll take such a time
that Captain Brown couldn't manage to come along here and see you as he
promised. Howsomever, the old skipper has sent me in his stead, to
bring you some letters and take home any cargo you might have ready in
sealskins and oil. He told me, likewise, to let you have any provisions
you may want; but, I'm sorry to say, while coming here I helped an
American ship that was short, and now I only have a little flour left to
spare."

"Thank you, all the same," said Fritz, who had been waiting patiently
whi