ed that you were lost. And has honest Dick too escaped?"

She made me sit down by her side, and I rapidly told her all that had
occurred.

"And how did you escape, Miss Kitty?" I asked; "we were fearfully
anxious about you."

"You had reason to be so," she answered. "Mr Falconer had expressed
some fears that the natives might prove treacherous while we were away
in the boats, and, on our return, he was remarking that he must try and
induce the captain to keep a strict watch on board, and to allow only a
few natives at a time on deck, when, through his glass, he observed that
the ship was surrounded by canoes, and that the natives in great numbers
were clambering on board. Still we sailed on, when we saw a dreadful
explosion, and shortly afterwards several canoes came paddling after us.
Mr Falconer pointed them out to the men, who agreed with him that the
ship had been taken by the savages, and that by some accident they had
blown her up. He immediately put the boat about, exclaiming to me, `For
your sake we will do our best to escape!' The wind increased: we were
standing out into the open ocean. Had it not been on my account Mr
Falconer would, I am sure, have gone back at all risks to ascertain the
fate of those on board. The fact, however, of the canoes following us,
showed the hostile intentions of the natives, and the men declared that
even had I not been in the boat they would not have run their heads into
danger for no purpose.

"As the wind increased we lost sight of the canoes, which were unable to
contend with the heavy sea to which the boat was now exposed.

"The prospect before us was a fearful one, but the alternative of
returning to the shore was worse. Still we could rely on the protecting
care of our heavenly Father, in whom we both trusted. We had but a
small supply of food and water, which, with the greatest economy, could
only last us three days. Mr Falconer, however, encouraged the men by
telling them that he hoped, before the end of that time, to make an
island, marked as uninhabited on the chart, where we might obtain water
and provisions.

"Happily the wind, though continuing fair, did not increase, and,
exactly at the time Mr Falconer expected, the island appeared in sight,
when the last drop of water had been exhausted. Coasting around the
island, we found a small harbour, which we entered. A grove of
cocoa-nut trees greeted our sight, fringing the shore, and near them was
a s