hey were
objects of eager curiosity on board, and presently they heard loud cheers
come across the water.

"They have made us out," Joyce said. "Of course, at first they took us for
a native canoe, for they would be looking for the gig. They don't know yet
what bad news we have to tell them."

In a few minutes they were alongside, but as soon as they were within hail
the captain had shouted out:

"Are all well?"

"No, sir," Joyce, who was in the bow, shouted back, "I am sorry to say
that Mr. Towel and the rest have all been killed by the Malays."

The news effectually damped the feeling of delight that had been excited
on board when it was known that the canoe contained three of the boat's
party, for whose safety the greatest anxiety had been felt, the captain
alone having entertained any hopes that the gig could have lived through
the storm. However, as they climbed up the ladder to the deck they were
shaken warmly by the hand by officers and crew, and then the captain
requested Joyce and Stephen to come down to his cabin, while Wilcox went
forward to tell the story to the crew. The first and third mates also came
into the cabin. Joyce then, as the senior, told the story of all that had
happened from the time the cyclone had burst upon them.

"You see, sir," he said when he came to the conclusion, "I owe my life
entirely to Stephen and Wilcox."

"I see that plainly enough, Mr. Joyce," the captain said gravely. "They
behaved admirably both in that and in the whole subsequent proceedings.
You were lucky indeed in hitting on the spot where we were separated. We
were four hundred miles away when we got out of the cyclone. The wind has
been very light, and we have gone close to every island we have passed on
our way here. It was, of course, most doubtful whether you would be able
to find the place where the wreck was, for you too might have been carried
hundreds of miles in an entirely different direction, and without your
instruments you would have had but a small chance of discovering your
position or finding your way here. Still, it seemed the only chance. Of
course I could not tell whether when you landed you found the wreck had
been stripped by the natives; but if you had not done so it seemed to me
you would certainly make your way there if you could, for you would know
there were no natives near, and you might, for all I could tell, have
found various stores cast up that would enable you to live for a long
ti