"If such is the case, we will make their acquaintance," observed the
doctor, and they descended into the bay. They hurried towards the hut.
On reaching the entrance, even the doctor started back. Part of the
roof had been blown off, allowing the light to strike down into the
interior. On a rude bed, raised a couple of feet from the ground, lay
the body of a man. He was fully clothed, but the eyeless skull and
parchment-like cheeks showed that he had been long dead. He was dressed
as a seaman. A sou'-wester was on his head, and a woollen muffler round
his neck, while a blue serge vest and a dark jacket and trousers clothed
his body. Several pairs of woollen socks and stockings were on his
feet, one of which was tied up with rags, as if it had received some
injury. His legs were crossed, and the arms and fingers stretched out
straight on either side. Had it not been for the light which struck
down on the head, the body lay in so natural a position that the man
might have been supposed to be asleep. Close by was a small heap of
limpet and mussel shells, and within his reach were two bottles--one was
empty, but the other was full of water. Another object attracted their
attention. It was a piece of slate, on which were scratched several
zigzag marks, which had apparently been formed by the hand of the dying
man, who had probably in his last moments attempted to write his name
and give some account of his sad history.

The doctor, after examining the body for some minutes, observed, "He has
died of hunger, poor fellow. Probably he belonged to the crew of some
hapless vessel wrecked near this, the survivors of whom were taken off
by the ship we saw this morning. Poor fellow, we must come back and
bury him another day, but we must delay no longer."

The sad spectacle they had just witnessed made the explorers turn their
thoughts from themselves.

They pushed on as fast as they could go, but were often nearly dropping
with fatigue. Marshes had to be passed, and frequently they were
plunging across boggy ground, running the risk every instant of sticking
or sinking beneath it; several streams were forded, and rugged heights
climbed similar to those they had traversed on the previous day.

Just before sunset they stopped to dig a quantity of roots, which the
doctor was anxious to carry with him, while Captain Twopenny shot
several birds. While Willy was hunting about, he heard a low clattering
sound. Search