to the beche-de-mer
station on getting Mrs. Orban's message, without the least
knowledge whom they would find of their own party; and after the
first explanations were over, no one could speak of the cloud
shadowing the joy of meeting. To Eustace's infinite surprise, Bob,
to whom he had looked for so much, failed him utterly--he could not
rouse himself, let alone other people.

The survivors of the wrecked _Cora_ were carried by steamer to
Cooktown, and Mr. Orban took his family to the best hotel, for no
plans could be made till Peter was better.

Alone with Eustace, Nesta gave vent to her feelings very often.

"Eustace," she said, "wasn't it queer Aunt Dorothy saying the very
day before we left she didn't feel a bit as if we were going to
England? Do you remember?"

Eustace replied with a kind of grunt. He had not words for every
emotion as Nesta had.

"And it seems so horrid," she proceeded chokily, "to know nothing
about what happened to her or even how it happened. If only some
one could tell us!"

"What's the good of talking when no one can?" said Eustace
gruffly. "I can't think why you do. You only make yourself cry."

The first person to speak of Miss Chase without tears was Peter. He
was lying in their private sitting-room, and suddenly he said,--

"I say, where's Aunt Dorothy?"

He had asked before, but in his weakness the subject had easily
been changed.

"She is not here, dear," said Mrs. Orban.

"That's funny," said Peter, in his old talkative way; "she
distinctly said she was coming."

Bob got up from a deep chair and stood, with his back to the room,
looking out of the window.

"Did she, Peter?" said Mr. Orban quickly. "When?"

"Why, on the boat," said Peter; "when she put the life-belt round
me."

"Oh, she put the life-belt round you, did she?" said Mr. Orban.
"And what did she say?"

Every one leant forward eagerly. It was the first time Peter had
shown any inclination to talk, and no one had guessed he could
possibly know anything of Miss Chase.

"She said," was his clear reply, "'That's right, Peter Perky. Now
mind you float; don't struggle, but lie on your back.'--Bob," he
broke off, "lucky you taught me to float, wasn't it?"

"Yes, yes," said Bob; "never mind about that. Go on about Dorothy."

Eustace stared at his back in wonder. For the first time in his
life he heard Bob irritable.

"She said," Peter went on obediently, "'Don't be frightened; I am
coming too.'"

"Wel