In the mean time, Fritz had informed Ernest that his mother and brothers were found, and that the man who accompanied us was a European.

Ernest received the intelligence with a calm joy; it was only by the tears in his eyes you could discover how much his heart was affected; he leaped from the pinnace and came to thank the missionary.

I had my share of his gratitude too, for coming to seek him, before I had seen the dear lost ones.
We had now to think of joining them.

We unanimously decided to proceed by water; in the first place, that we might bring our pinnace as near as possible to my dear Elizabeth, who was still suffering from her fall, her forced voyage, and, above all, from her anxiety; besides, I confess that I felt a little fatigue, and should have reluctantly set out to cross the wood a third time; but, in addition to this, I was assured that it was the promptest mode of reaching our friends, and this alone would have decided me.

The pinnace was then loosened, the sail set, and we entered with thankfulness.