Part 38 (1/2)

Fairburn's house, and was not sorry once more to find himself surrounded by all the comforts and luxuries of civilization He could scarcely believe where he hen he woke up the first ht without being disturbed by the roar of a lion or the cries of the hyena and jackal: and after the habit to which he had been so long accusto his meals in the open air with his plate on his knees, he could hardly reconcile his were passed in narrating their adventures to Mr Fairburn, as truly glad of the result of the mission to Port Natal, as it would be so satisfactory to old Sir Charles

Alexander was now land, and resolved to take his passage in the first shi+p which sailed after the arrival of the wagon with his effects In the s were chiefly passed with Swinton and the Major, the latter of wholand by the same vessel as Alexander In three weeks after their return to the Cape, the four wagons arrived, and excited much curiosity, as they were filled with every variety of the anienous to the country Swinton's treasures were soon unloaded and conveyed to his house, and our naturalist was as happy as an enthusiastic person could be in the occupation that they gave hi which were the skins of the lion and lioness As for the Major, he had had all his pleasure in the destruction of the animals

Bremen reported that all the Hottentots had behaved very well, and that Big Adam had nearly recovered, and was able to li while before he would regain the perfect use of his leg Alexander now sent for theratuity for their good conduct To Bremen and Swanevelt, who had invariably conducted the and on and span of ten oxen as a present by which they ht in future obtain their livelihood, and the poor fellows considered theons and cattle of every description were left with Swinton to be disposed of

The Major pressed Swinton very hard to part with little Omrah, but Swinton would not consent The Major therefore presented Omrah with one of his best rifles, and accouterments to correspond, as a mark of his attachment; and Alexander desired that all the ons and other articles, as well as the cattle and horses, should be put by for Oave the lad his telescope, hich he knew that would be highly pleased

We may here as well observe, that, a few months after Alexander and the Major left the Cape, Omrah, who had been placed at a school by Swinton, was admitted into the church, and baptized by the na his sponsors by proxies

He turned out a very clever scholar, and remains with Swinton at this moment He has more than once acco his countrye way of life, and has been of great service to the missionaries as interpreter of the Word to his heathen brethren

About a fortnight after the return of the wagons to Cape Town, a free trader cast anchor in Table Bay to take in water, and Alexander and the Major secured a passage in her to England Alexander parted with great regret from Mr Fairburn and Swinton, hom he promised to correspond, and they sailed with a fair wind for St Helena, where they re the tomb of Napoleon, the forht them into the Channel-and they once land

Alexander's impatience to see his uncle, fro for hi that he was in tolerable health, induced him to leave the shi+p in a pilot-boat, and land at Faloing on to Portsmouth, Alexander traveled with all possible speed, and on the second day arrived at his uncle's

”Is my uncle quite well!” said Alexander, as he leaped out of the chaise, to the old butler as at the door

”No sir, not quite well: he has been in bed for this last week, but there is nothing serious the matter, I believe”

Alexander hastened up stairs and was once more in the arms of Sir Charles Wilmot, who embraced him warmly, and then, exhausted with the emotion, sank back on his pillow

”Leave me for a little while, my dear boy, till I recover myself a little,” said Sir Charles ”I have no complaint, but I am very weak and feeble I will send for you very soon”

Alexander, as himself much affected, was not sorry to withdraw for a while, and sent the housekeeper, who attended his aged relative, into the roo that he would return to his uncle

”And now,I aain; I have not had one line from you since you left the Cape, and I really think that the worry and anxiety that I have felt have been the cause of ain Now tell me all, and I will not interrupt you”

Alexander sat down on the bed, and entered into a full detail of the results of his expedition to Port Natal; reading over all thethat the descendants of the Europeans then existing could not by any possibility be from those who had been lost in the _Grosvenor_ East Indiaman

Sir Charles Wilmot listened in silence to all Alexander had to say, and then, joining his hands above the bed-clothes, exclaiht has been removed from my mind” He then for some minutes prayed in silence, and when he had finished, he requested Alexander to leave hi called shortly after Alexander left his uncle, Alexander requested his opinion as to Sir Charles's state of health The former replied--”He has but one complaint, my dear sir, which all the remedies in the world are not very likely to ree, I do not consider that he is in any ier of dissolution I think it very likely that he ain; but, at the saradually, for he has had naturally a very strong constitution, I believe the anxiety of hisfro allowed you to undertake your expedition, have worn hi else; but now that you have returned, I have no doubt, after the first excitement is over, that he will rally Still man is born to die, Mr

Wilmot, and your uncle has already lived beyond the three-score years and ten allotted to the average age ofshall be done which can protract a life so dear to you”

Alexander thanked the physician, and the latter then went up stairs to Sir Charles On his return, he inforer, but soone

When Alexander saw his uncle in the evening, the latter again thanked hiht back such satisfactory accounts