brig, with the intention of navigating her to Valparaiso.
During the passage of Cape Horn, however, the _Mermaid_ encountered
contrary winds and very heavy weather, in which she was dismasted, with
the loss of three of her crew. The brig was then put under jury rig, so
far as the resources of the vessel permitted; but it was not of a
sufficiently efficient character to permit of her being worked to
windward, and a persistent succession of contrary winds drove her deep
into the heart of the Pacific Ocean, where, during a gale that sprang up
on the night of the --th of --, she was driven ashore, and became a
total wreck on the outlying reef of an unknown island, not marked on the
charts, but situate in Latitude 16 degrees 8 minutes South, Longitude
120 degrees 56 minutes West. During this gale the _Mermaid_ was again
dismasted, and Mr Leslie, who was at the wheel, was knocked down and
injured on the head by the falling wreckage, in consequence of which he
was conveyed below, where Miss Trevor remained in attendance upon him.
He lay insensible for nearly thirty-six hours; and it was during this
time that the brig struck on and was driven nearly the entire width of
the reef, where she now lies. The only survivors of this disaster are
Miss Trevor and Mr Leslie, who undoubtedly owe their lives to the fact
that they were below when the brig struck. It is urgently requested
that help be sent to them as quickly as possible, as the island upon
which they have been wrecked lies quite out of the usual track of
shipping, and their prospects of rescue by a passing vessel are
consequently small.

"(Signed) Flora Trevor. Richard Leslie.

"Dated this--day of --, 18--."

"There," exclaimed Leslie, as he read over the completed document, "that
ought to bring us help if the bottle happens to be picked up. But we
must not count upon it, for it may drift about for years before it is
found. However, we will do what we can to attract attention to it. A
mere floating bottle is a very inconspicuous object, and may be passed
within a hundred feet without being noticed; but I will pack it in a
good big packing-case before sending it adrift. A floating case,
especially if conspicuously marked, stands a hundred times as good a
chance of being picked up as does a mere bottle."

Accordingly, on the following day, the bottle, with the document
hermetically sealed within it, was taken on board the brig and carefully
packed away in the cent