while certainly no one would have recognised us.
It was not quite an easy matter to find our way to Mr Gray's house, and
we had to stop every now and then while Jim and I consulted which
turning to take, for we were ashamed to ask any one. At last, just as
we got near it, we saw an old gentleman in a Quaker's dress coming along
the road. He just glanced at us, as other people had done; when I,
looking hard at him, felt sure he must be Mr Gray. I nudged Jim's
shoulder.

"Yes, it's he, I'm sure," whispered Jim.

So I went up to him, and pulling off my hat said--

"Beg pardon, sir; may I be so bold as to ask if you are Mr Gray?"

"Gray is my name, young man," he answered, looking somewhat surprised,
"Who art thou?"

"Peter Trawl, sir; and this Jim Pulley, and here is my brother Jack."

If the kind Quaker had ever been addicted to uttering exclamations of
surprise he would have done so on this occasion, I suspect, judging from
the expression of astonishment which came over his countenance.

"Peter Trawl! James Pulley! Why, it was reported that those two lads
were lost in the North Sea years ago," he said.

"We are the lads, sir, notwithstanding," I answered; and I briefly
narrated to him how we had been picked up by the _Intrepid_ and carried
off to the Pacific, and how I had there found my brother Jack.

"Verily, this is good news, and will cheer the heart of thy young
sister, who has never ceased to believe that thou wouldst turn up again
some day or other," he said.

"Is Mary well, sir? Is she still with you?" I inquired, eagerly.

"Yes, Peter, thy sister is as one of my family. Though greatly pressed
by her newly-found relatives in Shetland to go there and reside with
them, she has always replied that she was sure thou wast alive, and that
thou wouldst come back to Portsmouth to look for her and that it would
grieve thee much not to find her."

"How kind and thoughtful!" I exclaimed. "Do let me go on, sir, at once
to see my young sister."

"Stay, lad, stay," he answered. "The surprise might be too great for
her. I will go back to my house and tell her that thou hast returned
home safe. Thou art so changed that she would not know thee, and
therefore thou and thy companions may follow close behind."

We saw Mr Gray go to his door and knock. It was opened by a
woman-servant, who I was sure, when I caught sight of her countenance,
was Nancy herself. She saw me at the same moment, and directly