CHAPTER XVI.

THE RETURN HOME.

Raphael. His village is the best to every villager.

The Roman erudite poet, reckless yachting-man, Thought Sirmio fairest of the world's peninsulas. Alonette. This is the dreariest of existing villages. Raphael. Read, child! Alonette. I'd rather flirt. What can I read, papa? Raphael. Here 's Villchius De Mysteriis MagicalibusA most entrancing book.

The Comedy of Dreams.

WHEN Harold and his party arrived at Terceira, instant inquiry was made for a vessel that would take them to the Island of Hawks. This was easily found. It was agreed that the Troglodyte should remain at Terceira till Harold returned, as it was necessary to buy some clothes for his children and himself, now that he had given up his wild life. Harold begged Miranda also to stay; but she was too

anxious about Tom, so she accompanied her father. When they arrived at the island, they made their way as quickly as possible to the Troglodyte's cavern, hoping to find Tom there. They knew that Tom, being such an excellent swimmer, would be sure to find his way to the island, and that he would depend upon their sending him means of escape. But they could not find him. The cavern was just as they left it, with the various rude household or cavernhold implements which the Troglodyte had used lying about. There was no sign that any one had been there since they left. They wandered about the island till it was dark; they shouted, but were only answered by the echoes of their own voices. They determined to search once more on the next day; so they slept in the vessel, just off the island. The next day's search was as fruitless; so they left and turned back to Terceira sadly. But Miranda was not without hope. "Do

not despair, papa," she said; "I know he is safe. Perhaps we shall find him at Terceira when we return;" for Harold had asked the Troglodyte to have inquiries made of any vessels that came in, whether Tom had been

picked up.

Every minute Miranda was saying to herself, "I know he is safe. He cannot be drowned." Perhaps she was not altogether uninfluenced by the strong spirit of her ancestress Sobieska, a spirit which had while on earth found entrance into higher spheres. When they reached Terceira there was no news of Tom. Little Adam and Eve were looking disconsolate in ordinary costume, even more uncomfortable than a labouring man looks in his Sunday clothes. The Troglodyte was already tired of civilised life, and was wishing himself back at the Island of Hawks. Sorry as he was that no trace had been found of Tom, he could not help being eager to ask how his island was looking.

"There is one thing very odd about the poor fellow," said the Troglodyte, "you say he is no relation to us, Harold?"

"None whatever. His name is Jones. We have been knocking about together for eighteen years, and he told me his historywhat little there was to tell-for he was only fourteen when he came to Australia, and he had run away from school."

"Of course, you must know," said the

Troglodyte; "but if I had not been told his name was Jones, I should have said it was Tachbrook. He is marvellously like the Tachbrooks."

Miranda was listening eagerly to this, when her father said

"What do you think about it, Miranda? Miranda seemed a little confused as she said

"O, I have not seen any Tachbrooks, except you and cousin Gilbert and myself."

It

It was arranged that they should go to England at once. Tom Jones, if picked up by any vessel touching at Terceira, would have reached there ere this. Their hope was that they should find him in England. was a sad journey for them the next few days. Harold had looked forward to seeing his father, and Miranda to seeing the grandfather of whom she had heard so much. And Tom had talked so much of going to Rothescamp. He was always asking questions about the place. It had been so often described to him by Harold, that he seemed to know every inch of it. And now Harold must go there without him.

Harold had one hope. The Captain of the vessel which brought them from the Island of Hawks to Terceira said that a strange yacht was seen off the Azores at the time that Tom was missed. "She was going fast, as if racing," the Captain had said.

The

When our travellers reached Liverpool, they at once sent notice to Dr Septimus of their arrival. This was happy news for the Doctor; for but a few days before, he had had a visit from Captain Grainger, who told him how he had been obliged to get his ship off, and leave Harold and Miranda behind. Doctor knew he should see his children soon, but he had not hoped to see them yet. When the Captain came down to Rothescamp, he was, as may be supposed, well received. Indeed, the Doctor and the Captain seemed to become old friends at once, so thoroughly did they understand each other. The Captain had sailed many treacherous seas, and taken ships through many terrible perils: the Doctor had saved many human creatures from falling too early into the grasp of death. They had their common measure. To fight a ship through a storm,