cask contained a very small supply of water.

From their appearance, I do not think that they could have existed many
days longer. The only weapon they had was the musket which had been
presented at our approach, but the mate confessed that they had not a
grain of gunpowder, but that he thought by showing it he might frighten
away the madmen, for whom he mistook us. They had, consequently, been
unable to shoot any of the birds which frequented the rock, though they
had collected some eggs, which had proved a valuable change in their
diet. As time pressed, Mr Merton urged them to prepare for their
departure. Having collected a few trifling articles, relics of their
long imprisonment, they declared themselves ready to make the attempt to
move. Charley and I helped along the mate, who was the strongest, while
Mr Merton and the two seamen who had accompanied us assisted the other
three. Even as it was, so weak were they, that without the utmost aid
we could afford them they could not have crossed the island. They had
frequently to sit down, and almost cried like children with the pain and
fatigue they suffered.

Poor fellows! we had not stopped to ask any questions as to the
particulars of their disaster, but as we went along the mate gave us
some of the details. From the way he spoke, I saw that, though a very
quiet, well-disposed young man, he was not one formed to command his
fellow-men. He told us that his name was Jabez Brand.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I was second mate of the _North Star_, a large brig, bound from
Honduras to London. We had a crew of fifteen hands, all told. Several
gentlemen also took their passage in the cabin. Among them were two
brothers, Messrs. Raymonds, fine, tall, handsome men. They had made
their fortunes out in the West Indies, and were returning home, as they
thought and said, to enjoy their wealth. How their money had been made
I do not know, but it was said they were in no ways particular. Be that
as it may, they had very pleasant manners, and were very open and free
in their talk. One thing I remarked, that they seemed to think that
they were going to be very great people with all their wealth, when they
got home. Some of the other gentlemen, it seemed to me, fought rather
shy of them, perhaps because, as it was said, they had supplied slave
vessels with stores, or had had shares in them, which is not unlikely.
The _N