ible, when suddenly the squall
ceased. The opportunity was taken advantage of, the boat was lowered,
and he with about a dozen more leaped into her. The mast was stepped
and the sail hoisted, and the gale once more commencing with far greater
fury than before, away flew the boat over the foaming waves. Few if any
could have remained alive on board the _Orion_ after they had left her.
Some thought that a boat or a raft had been launched, by which means the
rest might have prolonged their lives.

The doctor concluded his account by saying that when morning came and he
saw the distant line of breakers ahead, he had given up all hopes of
their lives being saved; and when he had first opened his eyes on the
sand, while Tom and I were by his side, he had not expected to find
himself still an inhabitant of this world.

Solon ran alongside us and licked the doctor's hand, and seemed highly
delighted at having been the means of saving him; and I believe that the
doctor was very grateful to him for what he had done.

We soon had a fire lighted. I had a box of lucifers, and also a
burning-glass. The latter no one should be without in those regions
where the sun is always shining in the day, as a light can thus be
instantly produced. Some turtle was quickly cooked, and the strength of
all the party was much restored. After this they lay down, as did Tom
and I, and we all went to sleep. It was evening before I awoke, when,
accompanied by Solon, I went up to the rock to look out for Mr Henley's
boat. After sweeping my glass round in every direction, I returned,
sick at heart, to our hut. Indeed, as I gazed over that stormy sea, I
felt that there was but little chance of a frail boat such as she was
escaping its fury. The doctor slept all the night, but I was sorry to
find the next morning that he appeared weak and ill. He said that he
felt he had received some severe injury from being dashed against the
rocks. He could still walk about a little, though evidently with much
pain. For several days I observed no change either for the better or
the worse on our kind doctor. He probably knew what was the matter with
himself, and I suspect that his sufferings were aggravated by being
aware of the medicines which might have benefited him, and having none
to take. I sat and walked with the doctor for the greater part of each
day. He could do little more, however, than stroll out on the beach and
gaze with anxious eyes over