“Have you seen Dumps or Poker anywhere?” inquired Fred.

Meetuck nodded, and pointed to a corner, where, comfortably rolled up on a mound of dry moss, lay Dumps; Poker, as usual, making use of him as a pillow.

“Thems is go bed,” said Meetuck.

“Thems must get up then and come aboard,” cried Fred, whistling.

At first the dogs, being sleepy, seemed indisposed to move; but at last they consented, and following Fred to the beach, were soon conveyed aboard the ship.

Next day Captain Guy and his men bade Meetuck and the kind, hospitable people of Upernavik farewell, and spreading their canvas to a fair breeze, set sail for England.

CHAPTER XXVI.

The return—­The surprise—­Buzzby’s sayings and doings—­The narrative—­Fighting battles o’er again—­Conclusion.

Once again we are on the end of the quay at Grayton.  As Fred stands there, all that has occurred during the past year seems to him but a vivid dream.

Captain Guy is there, and Captain Ellice, and Buzzby, and Mrs. Buzzby too, and the two little Buzzbys also, and Mrs. Bright, and Isobel, and Tom Singleton, and old Mr. Singleton, and the crew of the wrecked Dolphin, and, in short, the “whole world”—­of that part of the country.

It was a great day for Grayton that.  It was a wonderful day—­quite an indescribable day; but there were also some things about it that made Captain Ellice feel, somehow, that it was a mysterious day, for, while there were hearty congratulations, and much sobbing for joy, on the part of Mrs. Bright, there were also whisperings which puzzled him a good deal.

“Come with me, brother,” said Mrs. Bright, at length, taking him by the arm, “I have to tell you something.”

Isobel, who was on the watch, joined them, and Fred also went with them towards the cottage.

“Dear brother,” said Mrs. Bright, “I—­I—­O Isobel, tell him. I cannot.”

“What means all this mystery?” said the captain in an earnest tone, for he felt that they had something serious to communicate.

“Dear uncle,” said Isobel, “you remember the time when the pirates attacked—­”

She paused, for her uncle’s look frightened her.

“Go on, Isobel,” he said quickly.

“Your dear wife, uncle, was not lost at that time—­”

Captain Ellice turned pale.  “What mean you, girl?  How came you to know this?” Then a thought flashed across him.  Seizing Isobel by the shoulder he gasped, rather than said, “Speak quick—­is—­is she alive?”

“Yes, dear uncle, she—­”

The captain heard no more.  He would have fallen to the ground had not Fred, who was almost as much overpowered as his father, supported him.  In a few minutes he recovered, and he was told that Alice was alive—­in England—­in the cottage.  This was said as they approached the door.  Alice was aware of her husband’s arrival.  In another moment husband and wife and son were reunited.