answered my father; "and I suppose I had better
play pilot in navigating this `seventy-four' of yours through the
channel. What water do you draw?"

"Seven feet aft," I answered, "and she works to perfection; so you will
have no difficulty with her."

"So much the better," answered my father, "as it will be rather ticklish
work. Keep her well to windward, Robert; do not go closer than forty
fathoms to the southern extremity of the surf. And now, my dear boy,
one word more. How is your sister?"

"Well; quite well, I am happy to say. At least, she was so when we left
England, little more than four months ago," I answered; "and so was
everybody else in whom we are interested."

"I am delighted beyond measure to hear it," returned my father; "this is
_good_ news, better than I could have dared to hope. Now keep her away,
Robert. Starboard your helm--hard a-starboard; so, steady now as you
go. Do you see the opening of the channel? Steer as straight as you
like for it. This _will_ be a surprise for Winter, indeed."

"He is still with you, then, dear sir?" said I. "I trust he is in good
health."

"Yes, I am happy to say he is quite well," returned my father. "Indeed,
we have neither of us had a day's illness since we have been on the
island. I was quite an invalid at the time that the ship was lost,
certainly; but I soon recovered, thanks to Winter's care and good
nursing. But how did you know of his being with me?"

"We learned your whole story, from the time of your sailing for home up
to the day of your being so shamefully abandoned," I replied, "and that
by the merest accident. We happened to fall in with one of the men whom
you shipped at Canton, on board a vessel which we boarded on the line,
on our passage out. But here is some one with whom I must make you
acquainted, dear sir," I continued, as Ella's fair head appeared at the
companion.

I then introduced her to my father, briefly narrating the circumstances
under which she became a member of our little crew, and frankly
explaining the relation in which we now stood towards each other. When
I had finished my explanation, my father took the dear little girl by
the hand, kissed her on the forehead, and said a few kind words to
relieve the embarrassment and agitation under which it was evident she
was suffering; and I had the very great satisfaction of seeing that
these two beings, in whom I was so warmly interested, were mutually
impressed ve