upon one of the small islands of the Bahama group that we had
been cast away, and our conjecture was right. After some consultation,
the captain and I called the men together, and told them that it was
very probable that we might be some time before we could find the
means of getting off the island, and that, therefore, we must all do
our best; that we would land and erect a tent with the sails, and
obtain provisions; after that we would consider the vessel and her
stores as public property, but that every man's private property
should be secured to him as if we were still on board of the xebeque;
that the captain should retain the command as before, and his orders
should be obeyed by every body, as long as they were reasonable and
just.

The men, who were well-behaved, quiet fellows--and not, like English
seamen, given to liquor--readily agreed, and it was arranged that the
following morning we should commence our labours. This was a sad blow
to me, who was anticipating a speedy meeting with Amy. I knew how
doubtful was the chance of our being seen by any vessel, and that I
must remain here for months, if not longer--but I had been schooled,
and could now say with fervency, "Thy will, oh Lord, and not mine, be
done."

We remained on board of the vessel that night, and the next morning
the gale had ceased, and the waters, to our astonishment, had receded,
so as to leave us at least sixty yards from the sea, which was now
almost calm. We first took a survey of the island, to ascertain if
there was any water, and, as the island was not more than two miles in
circumference, this did not take us long. Fortunately, in the centre
we found a deep hole sunk in the soft coral rock by some other people
who had been wrecked here, and in the hole the water was, although a
little brackish, somewhat palatable. It evidently was the sea-water
filtered through the soft rock.

The whole of the island was surrounded with coral reefs, with lanes of
deep water running between them, and the fish were sporting in
thousands after the storm, but there was not a tree or vestige of
vegetation upon the whole island. We soon, however, discovered that
it was frequented by turtle, for we found some eggs, fresh-buried, in
the sand. Having made this survey, we then went back to the vessel,
and with spars and sails rigged a tent upon the highest point of the
island, which might be ten or fifteen feet above the level of the sea.
The tent was large e