ifty miles a day, without much fatigue. It was
near sunset, however, before I reached the high land on the west of the
bay: from this high land the ship was seen, and when first viewed I saw
two boats rowing to the vessel. There was a great deal of surf on the
bar, so I felt certain that no boat could have entered the harbour that
day, and that probably the boats I had seen had been to look at the bar
to see if it were practicable.

I found my old hut on the bluff just as I had left it; so, making a meal
of my boiled corn, I lay down and slept well after my long journey.

I was awoke in the morning by the screams of a sea-eagle, and found, on
looking out, that the sun had risen many times its own diameter in the
sky. The wind had changed, and was now blowing from the north, and the
surf on the bar was much less than it was on the previous day, and
seemed to be decreasing. On looking towards the ship I saw two boats
full of men pulling towards the harbour; and these, I saw, would, if
properly managed, be able to cross the bar and enter the harbour.
Descending the bluff, I went down to the shore, and, breaking off a
large branch of a tree, waved it over my head, hoping that some one
either on the ship or in the boats would see me. It was exciting work
seeing these boats approach the bar and wait for some time as they saw
the wives break and curl at this spot. After some time the oars flashed
in the water. I saw the boats first on the crest of a wave, then lost
sight of them, then saw them reappear and glide along in comparatively
smooth water as they passed the dangerous breaking water on the bar.
The boats were now so near that I could count the men in the boats, and
could see they were all armed, and were dressed alike, which was not the
case with the crew of the small vessel that had previously visited
Natal. As the boats approached the shore several men stood up in the
front part of the boat, and seemed to be on the look-out for an enemy,
as they had guns, which they held ready for firing. I called out that
there was no one on the shore but me, and saw that surprise was caused
by my speaking English, because I was in dress like a Caffre, and my
skin had become very brown.

On approaching the rocks on which I stood the boat stopped, and a
young-looking man at the stern of the leading boat called out--

"Who are you?"

"I am an English boy who was shipwrecked here some years ago."

"What is your name?"