l-divers. We had heard of some wonderful sea-worn
caves, which were to be seen on the rocky coast at some distance from
Trincomalee, and had thus set out, intending afterwards to land on a
more southerly portion of the island--for we had determined to traverse
the coast, and, returning to Colombo again, to take ship for Burmah. Our
possessions were placed in a second boat, which had a planked covering
of a rounded form, beneath which they were secured from the dashing
spray affecting them. We had scarcely got out for about an hour's
distance when the natives stolidly refused to proceed farther, declaring
that a violent storm was about to burst upon us. We, however, insisted
on continuing our journey, when those in the second boat suddenly turned
its prow round and made hastily for the land, at the same time that our
own boatman dived from the side and dexterously clambered up on the
retreating boat, leaving us to shift for ourselves as best we could.
Their fears were only too well grounded, for before we were able to make
an attempt to follow them as they coolly made off with our property in
the boat, the wind struck our own little boat heavily, and out to sea we
went, driven through the rapidly rising waves in spite of our efforts to
render the boat manageable.

For five days we had now been whirled violently along; a little water
and a few handfuls of rice being all that we had to share between the
three of us who occupied the boat, and upon whom the sun each day beat
fiercely down in a white heat, increasing our sufferings ten-fold--the
effects of which could be seen plainly enough as we looked into each
other's faces.

Behind us the sun had just set in a sky that the waves seemed to meet in
the distance, and to be blended with them into one vast purple and
crimson heaving mass. Round us and before us, the waters curled up into
giant waves, which flung high into the air ridges of white foam and then
fell sheer down into a yawning gulf, only to rise again nearer and
nearer to the quivering sides of our frail craft, which still pressed
on--on to where we expected to meet with death rather than rescue, as we
saw the ripped sail dip itself into the seething waters like the wing of
a wounded sea-bird.

Following my companion's suggestion I lay down and closed my eyes, and
was so much exhausted, indeed, that before long I fell into a restless
sleep, from which I at last awoke to hear Denviers speaking to me as he
shook