Page:Traits and Trials.pdf/179

Rh rewarded, for they throve amazingly. Whether it was the change, the spare diet, the exercise, and being constantly out in the open air, but the children became quite robust in health; and Marion began to acquire a tint of crimson, quite English, on her cheek. Her childish age made her the happy one of the party; for Frank, even when most exhilarated by the success of any plan, was ever haunted by the thought of his father's despair when he should learn that the Warren Hastings had never arrived in port. Could he but have had his father with him, he thought life would have been perfectly happy, passed in their little Island—if he could but let him know their escape. At length an idea, almost an inspiration, came across his mind: he had heard of papers being sealed up in bottles, trusted to the mercy of the waves, and yet wonderfully coming to human knowledge at last. Accordingly, he wrote three distinct accounts of the shipwreck; described, which Michael's knowledge enabled him to do, the latitude of the island; gave his father's address, and also that of his London correspondent; finally, he took three bottles, placed in them the precious papers, and committed them to the sea. He was the more encouraged to this by Michael's