Cora, you remember the occasion on the ship, when all were present, and Cahoonshee joined our hands, and asked me to make you my wife? I consider that promise sacred, and my love of the memory of the dead tells me to keep it. But with you, it is different. I have no right to insist that you should keep a promise given under such circumstances. Tell me frankly, Cora, do you feel yourself bound by that promise? Cora seized both of his hands, and looked intently into his eyes, said: Charles, do you wish me to keep that promise? Drake was not prepared to answer this straight forward question, and wished for time to collect his thoughts. Cora noticed his confusion, and said: I will answer your question. I do feel myself bound by that promise—not that I made it to Cahoonshee, but from the fact that my heart was yours before that promise was made. When? he asked. On the island, she replied. Now Charles, I have answered your question. Will you answer mine? Do you wish me to keep mine? I do if— Don’t have any ifs about it, throwing her arms around him. Now hug and kiss me as you did on the island. He took her in his arms and said: Cora. I neither know myself or you. Yet something tells me that without you life would be miserable. CHAPTER XXI. Cora Receives Her Reward. The next morning they parted, the Quicks returning to their farm at Milford, and Walter, Amy and friends to the Hudson, arriving there on the evening of the third day. They were met at the landing by Lieutenant Powers and escorted to the Reindeer, where they were joyfully received by Captain Davis and wife. Then the events of the journey were related, and Amy and Walter introduced to them as husband and wife. Cora was in the best of spirits, and sought the first opportunity to make a demand on Captain Davis for the reward he had offered for the recovery of his son. I claim the reward, she said. You shall have it, he replied. Let me see. I believe it was one hundred and fifty pounds. We will call it that, more or less. Purser, bring the sparkling gold. I prefer sparkling eyes, replied Cora, taking Charles by the hand and advancing to the Captain. I want the one hundred and fifty pounds you promised, but I don’t want it in gold, I want one hundred and fifty pounds avoirdupoise, in flesh and blood. In a word, I want your son for a husband. My son is of age and can speak for himself, said the Captain. And he has spoken for himself. He has promised to marry me. Ah, sly puss, said the Captain. That is the result of allowing you to go off together in the wilds of the Delaware Valley. You are mistaken there, Captain. As far as our hearts are concerned, that was settled before we started. Charles, said the Captain, marriage is a personal matter in which parents should advise, but never control their children. But if you have agreed, you have my consent. Set the time for the wedding, and I will see that ample arrangements are made.