"Still, you will come and look us up next year should all be well with you, eh ?" "You bet on thet," replied the worthy old man.

"I guess you'll see me next fall, if I'm in the land o' the livin'!" "And you'll call to see if there are any letters for us at the Cape of Good Hope, won't you?
I told our people at home to write there, on the chance of their communications being forwarded on." "I'll bring 'em sure, if there's any," replied the skipper; and, by this time, a second boat having been sent off from the ship, in which the seamen who had pulled the first whale-boat ashore now took their places, along with the Tristan islander, it only remained for the kind old captain to embark--and then, the brothers would be crusoes indeed! "Good-bye, an' God bless you, my b'ys," he said, wringing first the hand of Fritz and then that of Eric, in a grip that almost crushed every feeling in those respective members.

"Good-bye, my lads; but keep a stiff upper lip an' you'll do! Trust in providence, too, an' look arter the seals, so as to be ready with a good cargo when I come back next fall!" "Good-bye, good old friend," repeated Fritz, wringing his honest hand again on the old man stepping into the boat, the crew of which raised a parting cheer as it glided away to the ship, leaving the young crusoes behind on the beach! They watched with eager eyes the sails being dropped and the anchor weighed, the _Pilot's Bride_ soon after spreading her canvas and making way out of the little bay.
Then, when she got into the offing, the skipper, as a final adieu, backed the vessel's main-topsail and dipped her colours three times, firing the bow gun at the same time.
It was a nautical farewell from their whilom comrades: and then the brothers were left alone!.