BILLY. 
229 
want of fire, food, and clothing, as well as a 
“ sair heart,” she found consolation in a “ dram.” 
Four days after we were drawing into Dilly 
harbour, in front of the bare rugged hills we 
had last seen six months previously, and soon 
moored so close to the wooden pier, extending 
from the palace steps, that we could see our 
friends looking out for us in the verandah. 
The joy of our meeting was damped by the 
too evident signs that they had one and all suf- 
fered greatly from the climate. The little Marie, 
who used to prattle so prettily on the voyage 
out, had not long survived the deadly influence, 
and lay in the Santa Cruz. The boys were thin 
and sickly, so different from the merry lads we 
had last seen ; and all wore a wretched pallor 
which it scarcely needed the recital we listened 
to, as we sat together, to explain. 
But though deploring that w T e had joined 
them to run the risk of malarial sickness, our 
friends made us heartily welcome amongst them, 
and apartments were at once arranged for us 
under their hospitable roof. Weakened already 
by almost continuous fever, I dreaded unspeak- 
ably the further suffering which the condition of 
my companions showed me w’as not to be evaded. 
With my urging to second his own desires, H. 
