soon gratified. Donagan gave a few lectures on the subject, and the lectures were a great success; and Donagan was very proud indeed of their success. Then the log which had been kept by Baxter — almost hour by hour, we might say — had been printed, and hundreds of copies were sold. And the newspapers "reviewed " the journal so as to give all that was interesting in it with the least trouble to themselves; and, in short, the whole of Australasia became interested in the story of the strange adventure. And Gordon's prudence, Briant's unselfishness, Donagan' s courage, and the true manliness of all became the themes of general admiration.
Kate and Evans had, of course, a grand reception. A public subscription was started, and a ship was bought and named the Charman, of which Evans was to be owner and captain, on condition that Auckland remained her head-quarters. And when she returned from her voyages, Evans always met with the warmest of welcomes from his friends the boys.
What was to be done with Kate? The Briants, the Garnetts, the Wilcoxes, and many of the others wanted to secure her services for life. Finally she decided on entering the service of Donagan' s family, for it was his life that had been saved by her care.
And now to conclude. Never before had schoolboys passed their holidays in such a way. But — as all boys ought to know — with method and zeal and courage there is no position, however dangerous, from which there may not be an escape. Our heroes had passed through a severe apprenticeship; their characters had been strengthened by bitter experience; the little ones Had become big, and the big ones had become almost men during the two years they were Adrift in the Pacific.
THE END.
