rterdeck stood Commander Newcombe, with Mr Tobin, the
first-lieutenant, and several of the other officers.

"Come on board," said Willy and Peter, going aft, and touching their
hats.

"What! are you the midshipmen I thought lost, with so many other poor
people?" exclaimed the captain, starting back with astonishment, and
then holding out his hands towards them. "Yes, I am surely not
mistaken; and have the rest, too, escaped?"

"Yes, sir; Mrs and the Miss Morleys, Harry Shafto, Mrs Rumbelow, and
the boatswain are all safe, though they would be very glad if you would
run down to the Auckland Islands, where we left them a fortnight ago,
and take them away. They are very hard up for food, I am afraid, and it
is not the pleasantest of countries to live in."

Willy and his companions received the warmest congratulations from all
the officers; and the news soon ran round the ship that those whom they
supposed had long been numbered with the dead were still alive and well.

"It will do the sergeant's heart good when he hears that that first-rate
wife of his is all right and well," observed the quarter-master, who was
one of the first to catch the news.

Willy and Peter felt great satisfaction on hearing that Colonel Morley,
with his regiment, was at New Zealand, and though grieving at the
supposed loss of his wife and daughters, had been greatly supported in
his affliction, and enabled to perform his duty like a true soldier.

"But how, sir, did the `Ranger' escape?" asked Willy. "We thought we
saw her go down."

"She was well-nigh doing so, my lad," answered Commander Newcombe; "but
by the courage and perseverance of the men, through God's mercy, she was
kept afloat till we could get an additional sail under her bottom, when,
as we steered to the northward, we fell in with a ship which towed us to
the Mauritius. There the ship being repaired, we were sent on to New
Zealand to land the troops. So confident were all on board that the
boats had gone down, it was at first deemed hopeless to look for you.
At length, however, from the representations of Colonel Morley, I was
despatched to visit the islands at which you might possibly have
touched, on the merest chance of gaining some tidings of your fate."

As soon as the commander heard of the requirements of the schooner, he
sent a supply of provisions and water on board. The "Young Crusader"
then steered for Auckland, near which Colonel Morley was stationed, to
co