ore attentive look. "Yes, that she is, and there up goes the glorious
flag of Old England at her peak. Hurrah, they expect to find some one
here, or they would not have hoisted their flag. They are lowering a
boat. See, she is making direct for the passage between the reefs.
They must have been here before. Who can they be?"

Such were the words to which I gave expression, on first seeing what I
believed to be a vessel come to our rescue. We set off to hasten to the
spot where the boat could best land, but on our way the former feeling
of doubt and mistrust came over us, and we agreed that it would be more
prudent to hide till we had ascertained to a greater certainty the
character of the stranger. Calling Solon to keep close behind, we
retreated to a spot a little up the hill, where we could securely
conceal ourselves behind a mass of rock and thick underwood, whence, at
the same time, we had a good view of the landing-place.

"Silence, Solon, silence, good dog," I whispered, as he crouched down at
my side uttering, at the same time, a low stifled bark and growl as he
eyed the approach of the boat, and seemed disposed to resent the
intrusion of strangers.

In a quarter of an hour, or less, the boat, a large gig, touched the
land, and six or eight people stepped out of her. Without stopping to
look about them, they made directly for the huts. They were in uniform.
Others were dressed as men-of-war men, and one was in plain clothes.
Solon had planted his fore-feet on the rock, and was looking down at
them. Presently, forgetting all my injunctions, he uttered a loud bark,
and bounded off down the hill towards them, whisking his tail and giving
other signs of pleasure. The person in plain clothes turned round, and,
as he leaped up on his shoulders, welcomed him by patting his head and
shaking him by the paws. I put my glass to my eye, and looked
attentively at him.

"Why, Tom, it is Mr Henley," I exclaimed.

The next instant, forgetting my lameness, we were running down the hill
as fast as our legs could carry us, and most cordially were we welcomed
by Mr Henley and the officers of the ship in which he had come. Johnny
Spratt was also there. He had entered on board the man-of-war as a
seaman. He at once took charge of Tommy.

I can but afford a brief notice of the account Mr Henley gave me of his
escape. After leaving the island, long before he could reach the
burning ship, the gale caught him and he