Oh! are they living ?" "Yes, they are living, and well taken care of," said the missionary; "come, and I will lead you to them." It was, indeed, necessary to lead me; I was so overcome with joy, that I should have fainted, but the good missionary made me inhale some volatile salts which he had about him; and supported by him and my son, I managed to walk.

My first words were a thanksgiving to God for his mercy; then I implored my good friend to tell me if I should indeed see my wife and children again.

He assured me that an hour's walk would bring me to them; but I suddenly recollected Ernest, and refused to present myself before the beloved ones while he was still in danger.

The missionary smiled, as he told me he expected this delay, and wished to know where we had left Ernest.

I recounted to him our arrival in the island, and the purpose for which we had left Ernest; with our intention of returning to him as soon as we saw the canoe pass, hoping to obtain some intelligence from the savages.
"But how could you have made yourselves understood ?" said he; "are you acquainted with their language ?" I told him Ernest had studied the vocabulary of the South Sea islanders.
"Doubtless that of Tahiti, or the Friendly Islands," said he; "but the dialect of these islanders differs much from theirs.