rve to
Blyth; "if you'll let me cook one of those pigeons it will do him all
the good in the world."

As Blyth carried a flint and steel they soon had a fire lighted in a
sheltered spot, just outside the cave. While I sat by my father I was
thankful to see that he appeared stronger as we conversed.

Blyth soon again came in and volunteered to carry the joyful
intelligence to Uncle Jack. During his absence the pigeon was cooked
and eaten. Dick brought in a shell full of water from a spring, which
he said bubbled out of the hill side close at hand.

Soon I heard Uncle Jack's voice. I need not describe the meeting
between him and my father. He had left Blyth with directions to bring
the boat round should the sea have gone down sufficiently to enable her
without risk to reach a little cove which we found not far from the
cave, where she might be hauled up if necessary. Uncle Jack, with his
usual forethought, had brought tea and sugar and biscuit, luxuries to
which my poor father had long been a stranger. They appeared to benefit
him much. In a few hours he was able to sit up and converse freely with
us. Before nightfall we had the satisfaction of seeing the boat, and
Dick ran down to pilot her into the cove. Some of the party spent the
night in the cave, which was of considerable size, and others under the
boat.

The first thing all hands did in the morning was to cut down the tallest
trees we could find to form a flag-staff, which we placed on the highest
part of the hill overlooking the ocean. We then fastened together the
two flags we had in the boat with a number of our handkerchiefs, which,
combined, formed a flag of a size which could be seen at a considerable
distance; eagerly we watched day after day for the appearance of sail.

I had never seen Uncle Jack so anxious, he could not help reflecting
that during the gale some accident might have happened to the "Iris,"
and that his dear Grace might be among the sufferers.

"Cheer up, brother Jack," said my father, when he saw him thus cast
down; "I have learned more than ever to put confidence in God's loving
mercy during my exile. Had I not been able to trust Him, I should have
sank long ago. I have known Haiselden and Bingley all their lives, and
they are not the men to desert their friends."

Still another and another day passed. At length, one morning, I was
awakened by a shout from Dick Meade, and running out of the cave, I saw
the rising sun