HOPE REVIVED. 139 At the very moment when the promontory was just abreast of them, Negoro appeared on deck ; he nodded to the peak familiarly, as he might hâve saluted a familiar frîend, and retired as stealthîly as he had corne. Two hours later, and the promontory was lying to the larboard wake. Dick Sands had never relaxed hîs watch- fulness, but he had failed to dîscover any further indica- tions of a coast-lîne. His perplexity could only increase ; the horizon was clear ; the Andes ought to be distinct ; they would be conspicuous twenty miles or more away. Dick took up his télescope again and again ; he scrutinized the eastem horizon with minutest care; but there was nothîng to be seen ; and as the afternoon waned away the last glimpse had been taken of the promontory that had awakened their expectatîon ; it had vanished utterly from their gaze ; no indication of shore could be seen from the "Pilgrim's" deck. Dick Sands uttered a sigh of mingled amazement and relief. He went into Mrs. Weldon's cabin, where she was standing with her party. " It was only an island !" he saîd ; " only an îsland !" " How ? why ? what îsland ? what do you mean ?** crîed Mrs. Weldon incredulously ; "what island can it be i'* "The chart perhaps will tell us," replied Dick; and hurrying off to his own cabin, he îmmediatcly returned with the chart in his hands. After studying it attentively for a few minutes, he said, — •* There, Mrs. Weldon ; the land we hâve just passed, I should suppose must be that little speck in the midst of the Pacific. It must be Easter Island. At least, there seems to be no other land which possibly it could be." "And do you say," înquired Mrs. Weldon, "that we hâve left it quite behind us ?" " Yes, entîrely ; almost to wîndward." Mrs. Weldon commenced a searching scrutiny of the map that was outspread before her. " How far is this," she saîd, after bending a considérable
