had a wonderful effect in soothing the
irritation of the madmen.

We took our way in the direction they pointed across the island. After
walking and climbing some way over the uneven ground, we came in sight
of a hut built of driftwood and pieces of wreck, almost hid from view in
the sheltered nook of the rock. No one was moving about it. Its
appearance was very sad and desolate.

"Perhaps the unfortunate people are all dead," remarked Charley to me.
"I think, from what those two strange men down there said, they have not
seen them for a long time."

We went on, apprehending the worst. As we got nearer, we hallooed to
warn anybody who might be there of our coming, so as not to take them by
surprise. Again we hallooed, and directly afterwards we saw the head of
a man appear at an opening in the hut which served as a window, while he
thrust out of it the muzzle of a musket.

"Hillo, mate! don't fire. We come as friends," shouted Mr Merton.

The musket was speedily withdrawn, and a man appeared at the door of the
hut, followed closely by another. There they both stood, closely
regarding us with looks of wonder. As they saw us they called to some
one inside, and two more men appeared at the door of the hut, stretching
out their hands towards us. Their clothes were in rags and tatters, and
they had a very wretched, starved appearance.

"Are you come to take us from this?" inquired the man we had at first
seen, in a hollow, cavernous voice.

"I hope so, if you wish to go," answered the mate.

"Go! yes, yes, at once--at once!" shouted the poor wretches, in the same
hollow tones. "We thought at first you were two madmen who are living
on the opposite side of the island."

Mr Merton told them that they need be no longer afraid of the madmen,
and that as he had no time to remain, they must accompany him at once to
the boat.

The first speaker, who said that he was the mate of the vessel to which
the rest belonged, replied that he was afraid none of them would be able
to walk across the island, as they had scarcely any strength remaining,
and that he believed a few days more would have finished their miseries.

While Mr Merton and the mate were speaking, the rest beckoned us to
come into the hut. Heaps of empty shells and bones of fish showed what
had been for long their principal food. Some dried seaweed had served
as their beds, and a tin saucepan appeared to have been their only
cooking utensil, while a