Page:The Swiss Family Robinson - 1851.djvu/379

356 Favoured by the wind, we soon reached the shore we had formerly quitted, and found our excellent missionary waiting for us.

"Come," said he, "you are now going to receive your reward. Your wife and children impatiently expect you; they would have come to meet you, but your wife is still weak, and Jack suffering—your presence will soon care them."

I was too much afibcted to answer. Fritz gave me his arm, as much to support me as to restrain himself from rushing on before. Ernest did the same with Mr. Willis; his mildness pleased the good man, who aho saw his taste for study,,and tried to encourage it. After half an hour's walk, the mission told us we were now near our good friends. I saw no sigu of a habitation, nothing but trees and rocks; at last I saw a light smoke among the trees, and at that moment Francis, who had been watching, ran to meet us.

"Mamma is expecting you," said he, us the way through a grove of shrubs, thick enough to hide entirely the entrance into a kind of grotto; we had to stoop to pass into it. It resembled much the entrance of the bear's den, which we found in the remote part of our island. A mat of rushes covered the opening, yet permitted the light to penetrate it. Francis removed the matting, calling—

"Mamma, here we are!"

A lady, apparently about twenty-seven years of age, of mild and pleasing appearance, came forward to meet me. She was clothed in a robe made of palm-leaves tied together, which reached from her throat to her feet, leaving her beautiful