of our sail, for the wind was setting
directly on shore. Still, slight as was the breeze, it assisted us
along, when we stood up, which we did by turns, while the rest laboured
with the paddles we had constructed. We gazed anxiously at the land,
but the current still appeared to be sweeping towards the south.
Suddenly it changed, and we advanced with far more rapidity than we had
hitherto done. We could now distinguish objects on the shore. We
looked out eagerly. No houses or huts were to be seen, nor any vessels
at anchor. A heavy surf, however, was setting on the beach, and Kiddle
urged us on no account to attempt to land there. This was tantalising,
but the danger of having our raft upset and being carried out to sea was
too great to be encountered. With might and main, therefore, we
continued to paddle along the shore, hoping to find some place into
which we might stand with less danger. We had to continue for some
distance, till at length we got round a point by which the land on the
other side was completely sheltered. We could scarcely hope to find a
better place. And now, exerting ourselves to the utmost, we made
towards the beach. With thankfulness did we hear the timbers grate
against the sand. Esse and Brady, who were nearest the shore, attempted
to spring on to the beach, but so weak were they, as we all were, that
in doing so they fell flat on their faces. Had we not kept the raft off
with our paddles, the next sea which came up would have thrown it over
them. By great exertions they worked themselves up, however, out of the
reach of the water, and the rest of us crawled on shore with more
caution. We looked round. No one was to be seen. Our first impulse
was to throw ourselves down on the sand and rest, but scarcely had we
done so when the sensation of thirst came over us, and weak as we were
we set out at once to search for water. The trees came down very nearly
to the shore, here and there rocks appearing among them. We soon
separated, each one going in the direction in which he hoped he should
find the longed-for fluid. I went forward almost as in a dream. My eye
at length caught sight of a rock at a little distance. I had a feeling
that water would be found not far off. A sound struck my ear--a low,
soft, trickling. Yes! It was water, I was sure of it--I almost fell in
my eagerness to hurry on. I cannot easily forget the delight with which
my eye rested on a natural fountain--a