Cape Town, a free
trader cast anchor in Table Bay to take in water, and Alexander and the
Major secured a passage in her to England. Alexander parted with great
regret from Mr. Fairburn and Swinton, with whom he promised to
correspond, and they sailed with a fair wind for St. Helena, where they
remained for a few days, and took that opportunity of visiting the tomb
of Napoleon, the former emperor of the French. A seven weeks' passage
brought them into the Channel-and they once more beheld the white cliffs
of England.

Alexander's impatience to see his uncle, from whom he had found a letter
waiting for him on his return to the Cape, stating that he was in
tolerable health, induced him to leave the ship in a pilot-boat, and
land at Falmouth. Taking leave for a time of the Major, who preferred
going on to Portsmouth, Alexander traveled with all possible speed, and
on the second day arrived at his uncle's.

"Is my uncle quite well!" said Alexander, as he leaped out of the
chaise, to the old butler who was at the door.

"No sir, not quite well: he has been in bed for this last week, but
there is nothing serious the matter, I believe."

Alexander hastened up stairs and was once more in the arms of Sir
Charles Wilmot, who embraced him warmly, and then, exhausted with the
emotion, sank back on his pillow.

"Leave me for a little while, my dear boy, till I recover myself a
little," said Sir Charles. "I have no complaint, but I am very weak and
feeble. I will send for you very soon."

Alexander, who was himself much affected, was not sorry to withdraw for
a while, and sent the housekeeper, who attended his aged relative, into
the room. In about an hour a message arrived requesting that he would
return to his uncle.

"And now, my dear, kind boy, tell me every thing. I am indeed overjoyed
to see you back again; I have not had one line from you since you left
the Cape, and I really think that the worry and anxiety that I have felt
have been the cause of my taking to my bed. Now you are back I shall be
quite well again. Now tell me all, and I will not interrupt you."

Alexander sat down on the bed, and entered into a full detail of the
results of his expedition to Port Natal; reading over all the memoranda
which they had collected, and satisfactorily proving that the
descendants of the Europeans then existing could not by any possibility
be from those who had been lost in the _Grosvenor_ East Indiaman.

Sir Charles Wilmot