hree
P.M. when they came up with her--it was the same boat we had built!
Where then was my friend Bracket and those who went with him? Every
appearance was unfavorable.--I hoped that a good Providence had yet
preserved him.--The two men who went for the boat, found it full of
water, without oars, paddle, or sail; being in this condition, and about
three miles to the leeward, the men found it impossible to tow her up,
so left her, and were until eleven o'clock at night getting back with
the raft. They were so exhausted, that had it not been nearly calm, they
could never have returned.

Wednesday, 6th.--This morning was indeed the most gloomy I had ever
experienced.--There appeared hardly a ray of hope that my friend Bracket
could return, seeing the boat was lost. Our provisions nearly gone; our
mouths parched extremely with thirst; our strength wasted; our spirits
broken, and our hopes imprisoned within the circumference of this
desolate island in the midst of an unfrequented ocean; all these things
gave to the scene around us the hue of death. In the midst of this
dreadful despondence, a sail hove in sight bearing the white flag! Our
hopes were raised, of course--but no sooner raised than darkened, by
hearing a gun fired. Here then was another gang of pirates. She soon,
however, came near enough to anchor, and her boat pushed off towards us
with three men in her.--Thinking it now no worse to die by sword than
famine, I walked down immediately to meet them. I knew them not.--A
moment before the boat touched the ground, a man leaped from her bows
and caught me in his arms! _It was Nickola_!--saying, "Do you now
believe Nickola is your friend? yes, said he, _Jamieson_ will yet prove
himself so."--No words can express my emotions at this moment. This was
a friend indeed. The reason of my not recognizing them before, was that
they had cut their beards and whiskers. Turning to my fellow-sufferers,
Nickola asked--"Are these all that are left of you? where are the
others?"--At this moment seeing David's grave--"are they dead then? Ah!
I suspected it, I know what you were put here for." As soon as I could
recover myself, I gave him an account of Mr. Bracket and the
others.--"How unfortunate," he said, "they must be lost, or some pirates
have taken them."--"But," he continued, "we have no time to lose; you
had better embark immediately with us, and go where you please, we are
at your service." The other two in the boat were Frenc