But Lionel still kept up heart and hope, still spoke gaily of the new
home they would soon make in sunny France--yes, even when day after day
passed by, and the watchers saw no land, and knew that they must be
drifting far out of their course, away into the wide unknown ocean. They
had been at sea more than a month when one morning early, Lionel, who
was pacing the deck, heard behind him a sudden shout of joy.

He did not turn, for there were tears in his eyes which he must hide
from his companions, for he had now, for the first time, learned from
his wife of her repentance and her grief, and he too was sad at heart
and well-nigh hopeless. But the shout was repeated and taken up by other
voices.

"Land, land at last!" they cried, and Lionel turned to see, far in the
distance, the tall sharp outline either of a rock or of the cliffs which
guarded some unknown shore. Wind and wave were steadily sweeping the
vessel onward towards this haven of refuge, and there was nothing to do
but to watch the sharpening outlines, and to see, as fog and mist
cleared before the sun, the sheer dark rocks and deep valleys of their
new home.

Nearer still and nearer, till the land was full in sight, and the
famished and wearied crew could see the green valleys and tree-covered
heights of this lovely island, could almost hear the fall of the clear
waters which they saw glancing down the face of the rocks.

What land it was they knew not. No houses were to be seen, no ships or
canoes flew out from under the shelter of the shore, no natives gathered
in fear or wonder on the silent silver beach, only a number of
bright-winged birds came as if to greet the new-comers, and settled
fearless on the sails and ropes.

Quickly the ship's one boat was lowered, and some of Lionel's
companions, well armed, put off for the unknown shore. Lionel would fain
have been of the number, but neither Arabella nor his friends would
permit him to run this risk. Ere long the boat returned, and the
adventurers climbed on board as eager to speak as were their companions
to hear.

"A dainty and delicious country, truly, Captain Lionel, but men we saw
none," said the first speaker.

"The beasts thereon are tame, and have no fear of man," continued
another.

"Yea, and the land is a garden of flowers, and the air soft, that it
would give back health to the dying; there will your fair wife recover
her bloom, and we all shall rest after our grievous toil."

"Frui