ith the cry of `Land! land
ahead!'

"`Old England--old England!' shouted the madmen, springing up and waving
their hands.

"`My native land--my own loved home!' cried the invalid, sitting up as
he awoke and gazing long and anxiously at the rock which rose out of the
blue water before us.

"Drawing a deep sigh when he discovered his mistake, he sank back into
his place. Soon afterwards, finding that he did not stir, I was about
to raise him up. There was no need for my so doing. He had gone to
that long home whence there is no return. Those who loved him on earth
would see him no more. Some of the people were in a very weak and sad
condition. They had been sick on board--scarcely fit for duty. I knew
what the land was--the rock we are now on; but, barren as it is, I
thought it would be better to recruit our strength on shore than to
attempt to continue our course to the mainland in our present condition.
I therefore steered for it, and was looking out for a secure spot where
I might beach the boat, when the madmen, growing impatient, seized the
tiller and ran her on shore, where she now lies. We were nearly
swamped, and everything in the boat was wetted. She also was so much
injured that she was totally unfit again to launch, and we had no means
of repairing her. However, we set to work to make things as comfortable
as we could, and the first thing I did was to erect a tent to shelter
the sick men from the rays of the sun. Poor fellows, they did not long
require it. Three of them very soon died. We had now only six
survivors of those who had escaped from the foundering ship. We were
all getting weaker and weaker, except the madmen, who seemed to be
endowed with supernatural strength. One day I, with the three seamen
who remained, went out to collect shellfish and birds' eggs. I carried
the only musket we had saved, having dried some gunpowder which I had in
a flask. We had come back with a supply; but as we approached the tent
we saw the two madmen standing in front of it, flourishing pieces of
wood and swearing that we should not enter it, and that they were the
kings of the country. Some of our people wanted me to shoot them, but
that, of course, I would not on any account do. I could not even say
that our lives were threatened. I stopped and tried to reason with the
poor men. At last they consented to give us up a saucepan and some of
the provisions, and we, glad to be rid of their company, res