little horse, at least. You'd better not go to
the camp yet, they are not ready for you, and that sweet little delicate
creature you call widow Lynch is quite able to manage them all. Come up
with me to the cave. But has nobody said a word about _us_?"

"Not a soul. As the widow told you, I was asleep when the mate returned
to the wreck. Indeed, it is not very long since I awoke. I did hear
some mention in passing of a few people being on the island, but I
thought they referred to savages."

"Perhaps they were not far wrong," said Otto, with a laugh. "I do feel
pretty savage sometimes, and Dominick is awful when he is roused; but we
can't count Pauline among the savages."

"Dominick! Pauline!" exclaimed the doctor. "My good fellow, explain
yourself, and let us sit down on this bank while you do so. I'm so
stupidly weak that walking only a few yards knocks me up."

"Well, only two or three yards further will bring you to our cave, which
is just beyond that cluster of bushes, but it may be as well to
enlighten you a little before introducing you."

In a few rapid sentences Otto explained their circumstances, and how
they came to be there. He told his brief tale in sympathetic ears.

"And your own name," asked the doctor, "is--?"

"Otto Rigonda."

"Well, Otto, my boy, you and I shall be friends; I know it--I feel it."

"And I'm _sure_ of it," responded the enthusiastic boy, grasping the
hand of the invalid, and shaking it almost too warmly. "But come, I
want to present you to my sister. Dominick is already among the
emigrants, for I saw him leave the cave and go down to the camp when you
were disputing with that female grampus."

"Come, don't begin our friendship by speaking disrespectfully of one of
my best friends," said the doctor, rising; "but for widow Lynch's tender
nursing I don't think I should be here now."

"I'll respect and reverence her henceforth and for ever," said Otto.
"But here we are--this is the golden cave. Now you'll have to stoop,
because our door was made for short men like me--and for humble long
ones like my brother."

"I'll try to be a humble long one," said the doctor as he stooped and
followed Otto into the cave.

Pauline was on her knees in front of the fire, with her back to the
door, as they entered. She was stooping low and blowing at the flames
vigorously.

"O Otto!" she exclaimed, without looking round, "this fire will break my
heart. It _won't_ light!"