"I was afraid you had forgotten me," the man said. "It is not quite eight o'clock yet, but as I found that you were both out, I began to be afraid that you might be detained until after I had to go; and you don't know how I long for a pipe of that tobacco. The very thought of it seems to bring old days back again." By this time they had entered the house, and Dick shut the door behind him. He had left a light burning, when they went out. Dick was so agitated that he felt unable to speak, but gazed earnestly in the man's face. "What is it, old chap?" the latter said, surprised at the close scrutiny. "Is anything wrong with you?" Dick took off his spectacles, rather to gain time than to see more clearly, for a plain glass had been substituted for the lenses. "I want to ask you a question," he said. "Is your name Holland?" The man started. "My name is Jack Holland," he said, "sure enough; though how you come to know it beats me altogether, for I am always called Jack, and except the governor, I don't think there is a man here knows my other name." "You were captain of the Hooghley, wrecked on the Malabar coast, nine years ago," Dick said, this time speaking in English. After an exclamation of startled surprise, the man stared at him in an astonishment too great for words. "Are you English?" he said slowly, at last. "Yes, I was in command of the Hooghley. Who, in God's name, are you?" Dick took his two hands. "Father," he said, "I am your son, Dick." The sailor gazed at him with a stupefied air. "Are you mad, or am I?" he said hoarsely. "Neither of us, Father. I am disguised as an old man, but really I am little more than eighteen. I have been searching for you for more than two years, and, thank God, I have found you at last;" and, bursting into tears, Dick would have thrown his arms round his father's neck, but the latter pushed him off with one hand, and held him at arm's distance, while his other hand plucked at his own throat, as if to loosen something that was choking him. "It can't be true," he muttered to himself. "I am dreaming this. I shall wake presently, and you will be gone." "It is quite true, Father. Mother is down at Tripataly, waiting for me to bring you to her." With a hoarse cry the sailor reeled, and would have fallen, had not Dick caught him and allowed him to sink gradually to the ground; where he lay, half supported by one of the bales. Dick ran to one of the saddlebags, where he carried a flask of brandy in case of emergencies, poured some into a cup, and held it to his father's lips. The sailor gasped. "It is brandy," he said suddenly. "I can't have dreamt that." Then he broke into a violent sobbing. Dick knelt by his side, and took his hand.