Fritz looked at me intently. I realized he was signaling me to keep quiet. Apparently the young woman was not yet ready to reveal her identity.
The boys ran down to the sailboat for the things we needed to make camp. While my wife hurried to prepare supper, my sons entertained the stranger. By the time we sat down to supper, the young woman was laughing and chatting merrily. But she never mentioned her past life or why she was dressed as a naval officer.
We made up a bed for her on the sailboat. When she retired for the night, Jack threw another log on our fire.
"All right, Fritz," said Jack. "Tell us where you found this jolly fellow. Did you meet him by chance? Or did you go in search of him on your mysterious voyage?"
Fritz hesitated a moment, and then told the story of the message tied to the albatross. "When I left you, I paddled for two days. I was beginning to lose hope that I would find the Englishwoman."
"That albatross could have flown hundreds of miles before it reached you," said Ernest.
"That's why I was discouraged," said Fritz. "Finally a high section of land came into view. When I rounded it, I found a calm and pleasant bay. And I saw a column of smoke rising from the rocky shore! I realized it was the 'smoking rock' in the message."
"What did you do next?" asked Franz.
"As soon as I landed, I spotted Miss Montrose coming toward me."
"What?" cried Jack.
"Don't you mean Mister Montrose?" said Franz.
"Oh, Fritz," said Ernest. "I guessed Edward Montrose was a young woman."
"She's embarrassed that she doesn't have any proper clothing," Fritz explained.
"I can take care of that as soon as we return to Rockburg," Mother said. "Now please tell us her real name."
"Her name is Jenny Montrose," said Fritz. "She's the daughter of a British army officer, and she was born in India."
He continued with her story. Jenny's mother had died when she was three. After his wife's death, Colonel Montrose focused all his attention on Jenny. She became an accomplished rider and shared his interest in the outdoors.
When Colonel Montrose received orders to return to England, he sent Jenny ahead.
A storm hit her ship a week after it left India. Everyone was forced to abandon ship and board the lifeboats. All the lifeboats disappeared and finally Jenny's boat capsized. She was the only person to reach shore.
"From that moment three years ago, until I found her, she never saw another human being," said Fritz. "She kept a fire burning, hoping to attract a passing ship. And she caught and tamed birds so that she could send messages with them."
He went on. "She greeted me with tears in her eyes and said, 'Thank goodness you have come at last! I've waited impatiently since the bird returned with your message.'"
"But how did she manage to live by herself for so many years?" asked my wife, full of concern.
"She is quite clever," said Fritz. "Some tools and a chest of navy uniforms washed ashore from the wreck. With these she managed to build a hut on the ground and a safe sleeping place in a tree. She had also made bows, arrows, and fish hooks. So she was able to provide food for herself."
"She is a clever girl indeed," said my wife.
We went to sleep on board the sailboat that night. The next morning we all assembled for breakfast. I addressed Miss Montrose.
"There is no need to hide your identity," I said. "We welcome you just as you are."
Jenny smiled. "The boys were treating me differently this morning. "So I thought you must have guessed my secret. I shouldn't be ashamed of these clothes. In women's clothes I wouldn't have been able to manage all the work I had to do."
After breakfast we started for Rockburg. Fritz and Jack went ahead in the kayak. When we arrived, they led the way through the gardens, orchards, and shrubs. Jenny was amazed when we arrived at Rockburg itself.
"I cannot believe that all this exists!" She looked around in wonder.
Jack and Fritz had set the table outside and laid out a fine meal. There was even a vase of flowers on the table.
"Come inside and change before we eat," said my wife.
When Jenny returned, she looked prettier than ever. I motioned her to sit between my wife and me. Ernest and Franz also sat, but Fritz and Jack wanted to wait on us all.
"What a perfect feast!" said Jenny with tears of joy in her eyes.