r two that there was an unusual degree
of activity among the sailors. They seemed to be getting things into
new trim; clearing up and cleaning; and the chain cable one day made
its appearance on deck, where room had been made for it. Eleanor looked
on at the proceedings, with a half guess at their meaning that made her
heart beat.

"What is it?" she asked Captain Fox.

"What's all this rigging up? Why, we expect to see land soon. You like
the sea so well, you'll be sorry."

"How soon?"

"I shouldn't wonder, in a day or two. You will stop in Sydney till you
get a chance to go on?"

"Yes."

"I wish I could take you the whole way, I declare! but I would not take
an angel into those awful islands. Why if you get shipwrecked there,
they will kill and eat you."

"There would be little danger of that now, Captain Fox; none at all in
most of the islands. Instead of killing and eating, they relieve and
comfort their shipwrecked countrymen."

"Believe that?" said the captain.

"I know it. I know instances."

"Whereabouts are you going among them?" said he looking at her. "If I
get driven out of my reckoning ever and find myself in those latitudes,
I'd like to know which way to steer. Where's your place?"

He was not uncivil; but he liked to see, when he could manage to bring
it, that beautiful tinge of rose in Eleanor's cheeks which answered
such an appeal as this.

CHAPTER XV.

IN PORT.

"And the magic charm of foreign lands,
With shadows of palm, and shining sands,
Where the tumbling surf
O'er the coral reefs of Madagascar,
Washes the feet of the swarthy 'Lascar.'--"

It was but the next day, and Eleanor was sitting as usual on deck
looking over the waters in a lovely bright morning, when a sound was
heard which almost stopped her heart's beating for a moment. It was the
cry, rung out from the mast-head, "Land, ho!"

"Where is it?" she said to the captain, who was behind her. "I do not
see it anywhere."

"You will see it in a little while. Wait a bit. If you could go aloft I
could shew it you now."

"What land? do you know?"

"Australia--the finest land the sun shines upon!"

"I suppose you mean, besides England."

"No, I don't, begging your pardon. England is very well for those who
can take the ripe side of the cherry; poorer folks had better come
here, if they want any chance at all."

The lucky sailor was coming down from the mast-head, and the captain
went off to join t