with a few rags of the garments that had once formed its clothing
still clinging to it here and there. It was a pitiful sight. Evidently
the unfortunate man had been cast away in an open boat, and had been
thrown on that beach when too much exhausted to make a last struggle for
life, for there was no sign of his having wandered from the boat or cut
down bushes, or attempted to make a fire. His strength had apparently
enabled him to get out of the boat, that was all, and there he had lain
down to die.

For some time the two wanderers stood contemplating the sight in
silence, and when at length they spoke it was in low, sad tones.

"Poor, poor fellow," said Mr Luke, "he must have been shipwrecked, like
ourselves, and cast adrift in the boat. But I wonder that he is alone;
one would expect that some of his comrades must have got into the boat
along with him."

"No doubt," said O'Rook, "they was all starved at sea and throw'd
overboard. Come, Mr Luke, let's bury him; it's all we can do for him
now."

Saying this, O'Rook threw off his jacket and, with his companion's
assistance, soon scraped a hole in the sand. Into this they were about
to lift the skeleton, when they observed that its right hand covered a
decayed remnant of rag, under which was seen a glittering substance. It
turned out to be the clasp of a notebook, which, however, was so decayed
and glued together that it could not be opened. O'Rook therefore
wrapped it in his handkerchief and put it in his pocket. Then they
buried the skeleton, and rolled a large mass of coral rock upon the
grave to mark the spot.

A careful examination was next made of the old boat and the locality
around it, but nothing whatever was found to throw light on the fate of
the vessel to which the man had belonged.

Returning to the encampment, O'Rook and his companion found their
friends busy preparing supper, which consisted of some provisions saved
from the raft, and cocoa-nuts.

In a few seconds the whole party was assembled in front of Polly's
bower, listening attentively, while O'Rook described the discovery of
the skeleton to the captain, and produced the old notebook. Deep was
the interest of every member of that little community as the captain
attempted to open the book, and intense was the expression of
disappointment on each countenance--especially on that of Polly--when,
after a prolonged trial, he utterly failed.

"Let Philosopher Jack try it," exclaimed Watt