up, caught it round the neck, and the
next moment the two were rolling together in the bottom of the boat.

The creature was soon strangled, and a mighty cheer greeted this
momentous victory.

We are not aware that albatross flesh is generally considered very
desirable food, but we are certain that starving men are particularly
glad to get it, and that the supply now obtained by the wrecked mariners
was the means of preserving their lives until they reached the land,
which they did ten days afterwards, having thus accomplished a voyage of
above two thousand miles over the ocean in an open boat in the course of
eight weeks, and on an amount of food that was barely sufficient for one
or two weeks' ordinary consumption.

Great commiseration was expressed for them by the people at the Cape,
who vied with each other in providing for their wants, and in showing
them kindness.

Ailie and her father were carried off bodily by a stout old merchant,
with a broad kind face, and a hearty, boisterous manner, and lodged in
his elegant villa during their stay in that quarter of the world, which
was protracted some time in order that they might recruit the wasted
strength of the party ere they commenced their voyage home in a vessel
belonging to the same stout, broad-faced, and vociferous merchant.

Meanwhile, several other ships departed for America, and by one of these
Captain Dunning wrote to his sisters Martha and Jane. The captain never
wrote to Martha or to Jane separately--he always wrote to them
conjointly as "Martha Jane Dunning."

The captain was a peculiar letter-writer. Those who may feel curious to
know more about this matter are referred for further information to the
next chapter.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

HOME, SWEET HOME--THE CAPTAIN TAKES HIS SISTERS BY SURPRISE--A
MYSTERIOUS STRANGER.

It is a fact which we cannot deny, however much we may feel disposed to
marvel at it, that laughter and weeping, at one and the same time, are
compatible. The most resolute sceptic on this point would have been
convinced of the truth of it had he been introduced into the Misses
Martha and Jane Dunning's parlour on the beautiful summer morning in
which the remarkable events we are about to relate occurred.

On the morning in question, a letter-carrier walked up to the cottage
with the yellow-painted face, and with the green door, so like a nose in
the middle; and the window on each side thereof, so like its eyes; and
th