"Father!" he exclaimed, eagerly, springing from his seat, and
overturning his chair in his haste.
Captain Rushton looked at him for a moment in bewilderment. Then all at
once the mists that had obscured his faculties were dispelled, and he
cried, "Robert! my dear son, how came you here?"
"I came in search of you, father. Thank Heaven I have found you alive
and well."
"I think I have been in a dream, Robert They call me Smith. That surely
is not my name."
"Rushton, father! You have not forgotten?"
"Yes, that is it. Often it has been on the tip of my tongue, and then it
slipped away from me. But, tell me, how came you here?"
"I am indebted to the kindness of this gentleman--Captain Smith,
father--who rescued me from great peril."
This scene, of course, excited great astonishment among the boarders,
and the worthy landlady who had been uniformly kind to Captain Rushton,
was rejoiced at his sudden recovery. Feeling that mutual explanations in
public would be unpleasant, she proposed to send dinner for both to
Captain Rushton's room, and this offer was gladly accepted.
"And how did you leave your mother, Robert?" asked the captain.
"She was well, father, but mourning for your loss."
"I wish I could fly to her."
"You shall go back with me in Captain Smith's vessel. I am sure he will
take us as passengers,"
"So we will.
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