. It seemed to come from
a long way off, yet we all felt sure that it was a voice. We
accordingly started up, forgetting our fatigue, and trudged on,--the
sand seeming to our weary feet softer than ever.

We went on for some time, but still we saw no one. We began to fear
that we had been mistaken; still we pushed on, and in another minute I
saw a dark object in the water, which I took to be a rock, close to the
white beach. Directly afterwards I made out a human figure, which
appeared to be coming towards us. I had got a little ahead of my
companions. I called to them, and we tried to hurry on through the soft
sand, which seemed to mock our efforts to advance.

"Is that you, Ben?" I shouted.

"Ay, ay, sir," was the answer, in a tone which showed that the speaker
had but little strength left. We soon reached him. It was indeed Ben
himself.

"I am thankful to see you, gentlemen," he said. "It's what I little
expected, when you disappeared from the raft. But how did you get on
shore?"

We told him, and then asked how he had escaped.

"It's more than I can tell you," he answered. "All I know is, that I
found myself floating alone on what remained of the raft, away from the
reef, with the mast and sail gone and the oars lost. After some time I
was carried again into the breakers, and, clinging on for dear life,
though I couldn't tell where I was going, was sent right through them
into smooth water. I looked about me, but could see nothing, nor hear
any sounds. On I drifted, wondering what would next happen, when at
last I was cast on shore,--the raft, which was turned over, being sent
by a sea almost on the top of me. One of my feet, as it was, got
caught; and if it had not been for the sand under it, my leg would have
been broken: indeed, I had to dig it out before I could set myself free.
Thinking that the tide might still be rising, and that I should be
caught by it, I dragged myself on to the side of a hillock, where I lay
down, and must at once have fallen fast asleep. I was at last awoke, I
suppose, by your hails; though I first heard them several times in my
dreams. I tried to hail in return, but felt my tongue clinging to the
roof of my mouth; and it was not till after some time that I could open
my eyes, and recollect where I was and what had happened. As soon as I
did this, I got up as fast as I was able. And again I say, I am
thankful to have found you, gentlemen; that I am."

"And we