"I'll keep the first watch, and then I'll call up Pepper and Salt, and
the latter shall call you. The others cannot be depended on," he said,
though I could scarcely comprehend the meaning of his words.

It was nearly daylight when Salt at last awoke me. He would not have
done so then, honest fellow, had not he been ordered. I asked him if he
had heard or seen any natives.

"No, Massa Jack, me tink none here; but better get to de boat and catch
some fish for breakfast, and den if any savage come we ready to start,"
he answered.

I thought his advice good, and desired him, as soon as it was light, to
go down to the boat and get the lines ready, so that we might shove off
as soon as the other men awoke. I, in the meantime, directly the dawn
broke, made my way to the summit of the hill, that I might survey the
island, and, if possible, ascertain the position of the ships. I had
fortunately brought a small but powerful telescope given me by Captain
Bland. The fury of the hurricane was over, but the breakers still beat
with violence against the barrier reef, and made it impossible for us to
put to sea. In a short time the glorious sun, rising above the horizon
amid the fast dispersing clouds, shed a bright light over sea and land,
and enabled me to obtain a far-extending view.

The island on which we had taken refuge was much smaller than I had
supposed, owing to the reef which extended along it; but across a narrow
passage was another of much greater extent and away to the north and
north-west were several others, besides numerous reefs marked by the
white masses of foam flying over them. Several tiny wreaths of smoke
which rose up amid the groves on the nearest island showed me that that,
at all events, was inhabited, as, probably, were most of the others. As
the mist of morning cleared away I could distinguish in the distance the
huts of the natives, though, owing probably to the barren nature of the
soil at the end nearest our island, none were built there. Again and
again I swept the horizon in search of the ships; nowhere could I
discern them. In what direction could they have been driven? I at last
observed beyond a line of reefs what I took to be a group of cocoa-nut
trees rising out of a low islet faintly traced against the blue sky like
gossamer webs. Yes, there were trees, but among them, after keeping my
glass steady for a minute or more, I made out the masts and yards of a
ship. That she was ei