THE WORLD OF ICE. 317

Isobel, who was on the watch, joined them, and Fred
also went with them towards the cottage.

“Dear brother,’ said Mrs. Bright, “I—I— 0
Isobel, tell him. J cannot.”

“What means all this mystery ?” said the captain
in an earnest tone, for he felt that they had something
serious to communicate.

“Dear uncle,” said Isobel, “ you remember the time
when the pirates attacked—”

She paused, for her uncle’s look frightened her.

“Go on, Isobel,” he said quickly.

“ Your dear wife, uncle, was not lost at that thne—”

Captain Ellice turned pale. “What mean you, girl ?
How came you to know this?” Then a thought
flashed across him. Seizing Isobel by the shoulder
he gasped, rather than said, “Speak quick—is—is she
alive ?”

“Yes, dear uncle, she—”

The captain heard no more. He would have fallen
to the ground had not Fred, who was almost as much
overpowered as his father, supported him. In a few
minutes he recovered, and he was told that Alice was
alive—in England—in the cottage. This was said as
they approached the door. Alice was aware of her
husband's arrival. In another moment husband and
wife and son were reunited.

Scenes of intense joy cannot be adequately described,
and there are meetings in this world which ought not
to be too closely touched upon. Such was the present.
We will therefore leave Captain Ellice and his wife