On reaching the deck and looking around, a cry of joy went forth from all. The fog was no longer to be seen, no longer did there extend around them the wall of gloomy gray, shutting out all things with its misty folds. No longer was the broad bay visible. They found themselves now in a wide river, whose muddy waters bore them slowly along. On one side was a shore, close by them, well wooded in some places, and in others well cultivated, while on the other side was another shore, equally fertile, extending far along. "Here we air," cried Captain Corbet. "That wind served us well. We've had a fust-rate run. I calc'lated we'd be three or four days, but instead of that we've walked over in twenty-four hours. Good agin!" "Will we be able to land at Moncton soon?" "Wal, no; not till the next tide." "Why not?" "Wal, this tide won't last long enough to carry us up thar, an so we'll have to wait here. This is the best place thar is." "What place is this?" "Hillsborough." "Hillsborough?" "Yes. Do you see that thar pint?" and Captain Corbet waved his arm towards a high, well-wooded promontory that jutted out into the river. "Yes." "Wal, I'm goin in behind that, and I'll wait thar till the tide turns. We'll get up to Moncton some time before evenin." In a few minutes the Antelope was heading towards the promontory; and soon she passed it, and advanced towards the shore. On passing the promontory a sight appeared which at once attracted the whole attention of the boys. Immediately in front of them, in the sheltered place which was formed by the promontory, was a little settlement, and on the bank of the river was a ship-yard. Here there arose the stately outline of a large ship. Her lower masts were in, she was decorated with flags and streamers, and a large crowd was assembled in the yard around her. "There's going to be a launch!" cried Bart, to whom a scene like this was familiar. "A launch!" cried Bruce. "Hurrah! We'll be able to see it. I've never seen one in my life. Now's the time." "Can't we get ashore?" said Arthur. "Of course," said Phil; "and perhaps they'll let us go on board and be launched in her." The very mention of such a thing increased the general excitement. Captain Corbet was at once appealed to. "O, thar's lots of time," said he. "Tain't quite high tide yet. You'll have time to get ashore before she moves. Hullo, Wade! Whar's that oar?" The boys were all full of the wildest excitement, in the midst of which Solomon appeared with the announcement that breakfast was waiting. To which Bart replied,-- "O, bother breakfast!" "I don't want any," said Bruce. "I have no appetite," said Arthur. "Nor I," said Pat. "I want to be on board that ship," said Phil. "We can easily eat breakfast afterwards," said Tom. At this manifest neglect of his cooking, poor Solomon looked quite heart-broken; but Captain Corbet told him that he might bring the things ashore, and this in some measure assuaged his grief.