e reef. The men who
happened to be on the quarter-deck with him had been saved; the others
were not seen after the shock. With the greatest difficulty they had
kept the boat right side up, for she was often full of water. For hours
they had drifted in the gale, and in the morning, when the storm
subsided, they had reached the island.

They had been kindly treated by natives, who were partially civilized by
their intercourse with vessels visiting the island, and with which they
carried on commerce, exchanging the products of the island for guns,
ammunition, and other useful and ornamental articles. The savages knew
that, if they killed or injured any white men, the terrible ships of war
would visit them with the severest punishment.

"What ship is this?" asked Noddy, when the past had been satisfactorily
explained by both parties.

"The Atlantic, of New Bedford," replied the mate. "She is full of oil,
and is homeward bound."

"Good!" exclaimed Noddy. "I suppose I have nothing further to do in this
part of the world, and I may as well go in her."

"This hasn't been a very profitable cruise to me," added Mr. Lincoln.

"Well, I suppose there is no help for it; and I hope you will have
better luck next time."

"I don't grumble; these things can't always be helped. We were lucky to
escape with our lives, and we won't say a word about the wages we have
lost."

"Perhaps you won't lose them," added Mollie; and there was a slight
flush on her fair cheeks, for her pride and her filial affection were
touched by the reflection that these men had suffered from her father's
infirmity.

The captain of the whale ship was entirely willing to take the exiles as
passengers; and Noddy told him he had saved a great many articles, which
might be of service to him. The next day, when the vessel had taken in
her water, she sailed for the beautiful island. Outside the reef she lay
to, and the boats were sent on shore to bring off such of the goods as
would be useful on the voyage.

Noddy and Mollie had an opportunity to visit their island home once
more; and, while the former assisted the men in selecting and loading
the goods, the latter gathered fresh flowers, and for the last time
strewed them on the grave of her father.

The "big heap thigs" was very much reduced by the visit of the boats;
but there was still enough left to reward the natives who had befriended
the young islanders for the service they had rendered. According to