gs, carried the man up to the dry beach. He then
dashed forward again, and succeeded in getting hold of the spar to which
the second man was lashed. It cost him much labour, and he was very
nearly carried out himself, but by exerting all his strength he
succeeded at length in getting the spar also up to the beach.

Cutting the man loose, he carried the body up and placed it beside that
of his companion. He then set to work to try and restore the men to
life, rubbing their hands and chests, but all his efforts were in vain.
As far as he could tell, they were the only people who had reached the
beach. He thought of poor Ben. He still had some hopes that he might
have been washed on shore, but although he called his name several
times, no answer was returned.

Finding that all his efforts were vain, he then got up, wishing to
procure some shelter for himself during the inclement night. Observing
the mizzen rigging with a piece of sail entangled among it, he cut the
canvas loose, and contrived with a couple of bales and some pieces of
board, to rig up a rough hut.

The storm abated and the moon shone out for a short time, enabling him
to complete his work. Scarcely was it finished than down came the rain,
and he was glad to crawl in and obtain rest. He slept on until morning.
Immediately on getting up he went down to the beach on the chance of
finding any of his companions, but no one was visible, either alive or
dead. There were, however, a number of articles and masses of wreck
floating or cast on shore, while the bows of the ship still hung
together at the end of the reef. Hunger reminded him that he must look
out for food. The trees and shrubs he saw growing inland gave him hopes
of finding provision for his wants.

His first care was to form a covering for his head, as he had already
found the heat of the sun excessive, and he had lost his hat during his
swim ashore. He had often seen the seamen on board form straw hats. He
at once looked out for such leaves as would serve the purpose of straw,
and soon finding some, he sat down under a tree and diligently set to
work. The fibre of the leaf served as thread, the thick stem as a
needle. Certainly the hat was not over well shaped, but it answered the
purpose of protecting his head and neck from the burning rays of the
sun.

His next idea was to obtain such food as the sea would afford. Without
difficulty he collected as many shell-fish as he required