nd yet
I had no doubt that Uncle Paul was right in not wishing again to fall
into their hands. I would not call to my friends till I had some more
certain information to communicate, so I sat eagerly watching the sail.
At length I saw that it was positively coming nearer. From its height
out of the water, I again began to hope that it might after all be that
of the sloop, which might have rigged a jury-mast. Nearer and nearer it
came, and at length I saw that it was certainly not the sloop, but the
oddest build of vessel I had ever set eyes on. As I gazed, I at last
discovered that it was not a vessel at all, but part of the trunk of a
huge tree, with a mast, to which a sail was spread, stepped on it. No
wonder that it approached slowly!

I now began to hope that my father and the skipper had escaped, and that
it might be bringing them to us, so I could no longer resist shouting
out to Uncle Paul, who quickly joined me. After examining it narrowly,
he exclaimed: "I have no doubt about it; I am nearly certain that I can
make out your father and Captain van Dunk, as well as the mate and the
native. Most thankful am I that they have all been preserved, for I
confess I did not expect to see them again."

The breeze increasing, the log approached somewhat faster than at first,
and all our doubts were soon set at rest. Uncle Paul and I, standing
up, waved our handkerchiefs and shouted, to draw their attention. We
were at length seen, and the course of the log, which was impelled by
paddles as well as a sail, was directed towards us. Having communicated
the joyful intelligence to the rest of the party, we all descended to
the lowest branch, the only accessible part of the tree from the water.
I need scarcely picture our delight when at length the log glided up,
and we were able to welcome my poor father. He looked thin and
careworn, as if he had gone through great hardships; and even the honest
skipper was considerably pulled down. Having secured the log, which was
of a peculiarly light and buoyant character, we invited my father and
his companions up to our platform, where breakfast had just been
prepared. They were greatly surprised to find that we had cooked food;
and they were ready to do ample justice to it, as they had been living
all the time on raw provisions. As soon as my father and the rest of us
had satisfied our hunger, he described what had occurred to them.

After we had escaped from the sloop, s