by
the roaring and hissing of the waters in my ears, it appeared to me that
I was lifted up and down, and swept backwards and forwards; then I felt
my hands and feet touching the shore. I struggled on. Another sea came
hissing up; I dug my hands into the sand ere it passed away. Exhausted,
I could exert myself no further. Had another sea overtaken me, it would
have carried me helplessly off.

How long I thus remained I know not, when I felt my head lifted from the
ground, and opening my eyes, I saw an old man with long hair and beard,
and a benignant expression of countenance, bending over me. Taking me
in his arms, he carried me some way from the water, and then again
placed me on the ground, unable to proceed farther.

"How came you here, lad?" he asked, when he saw that I had sufficiently
recovered to speak. "Has your ship been cast away?"

I told him how I had been carried overboard, and inquired whether my
companion had been saved.

"I have seen no one," he said. "Indeed, I only just now came down to
the spot to bathe, as it is one of the few places on the shore free from
rocks; but I will search for him as soon as you are more recovered."

I begged him to go at once, assuring him that I already felt better.

"I must give you some food first," he said, hurrying away. He brought
some fish and yams, which much restored my strength; but when I tried to
get up and accompany him, I was unable to walk.

He went off with a long pole and a rope in his hand, telling me that I
might rest without anxiety, as there were neither savages nor wild
beasts in the island to injure me.

The warm sun soon dried my clothes, and, creeping under the shade of a
rock, I fell asleep. I was awoke by hearing voices, and to my great
joy, on looking up, I saw the old man, accompanied by Bill, who told me
that he had clung to the timber, which had been drifted some way along
the shore into a sheltered bay, where it had grounded. Thence he had
scrambled over the rocks, and after searching in vain for me, had sat
down in deep grief, under the idea that I had been lost.

Assisted by Bill, the old man led me to his hut, built against the side
of rock at the foot of a high hill. Here he placed before us some more
food.

"I cannot but welcome you, my lads," he said; "for I have spent three
weary years in solitude since I was wrecked off this island, I being the
sole survivor of a whole ship's company. Though I have constantly be