hing the
hut looking dreadfully ill, and scarcely able to crawl along.

"O doctor, doctor, I am dying--I know I am. I wish that I had done as
you told me," he exclaimed in a feeble voice. "There is Brown, he is
still worse; he ate more than I did, and was unable to come here."

On hearing this we dosed the poor fellow with hot salt water, and put
the hot bricks to his stomach and feet, and then Tom and I ran on with
our remedies and applied them to Brown, whom we found in dreadful pain,
and looking as if he wag dying. I believe both of them would have died
had not the salt water made them very sick, while the hot stones
restored their suspended circulation. Still, I would advise no one to
depend on such remedies under similar circumstances. They got better;
but still for many days were subject to racking pains, and remained weak
and ill. While they were in this state, one morning, as Tom and I were
at the top of the peak taking our usual survey of the horizon, in the
hopes of a vessel appearing in sight, we saw a white speck to the
westward, the rays of the sun glancing brightly on it as it rose above
the blue sea. At first I thought that it was a sea-fowl flying between
us and the horizon; but, after a more steady look, I shouted--"A sail! a
sail!" There could be no doubt about it, but still I remembered that it
might not come near us. However, I watched and watched anxiously, and
it rose higher and higher above the horizon, and was evidently gliding
on towards the island. When I had ascertained this to a certainty, I
ran down with the good news to the doctor, for I thought that it would
raise his spirits. He had been much depressed and rather worse, I
feared, lately.

"She may touch here and relieve us, but we must not be too sanguine," he
replied, with a faint smile. "I have ceased to hope for any improvement
in my health or strength, and doubt if I should even survive a voyage."

By this remark I guessed how ill the doctor thought himself. I hoped,
however, that from being out of spirits he might fancy himself even
worse than he was. Again Tom and I went up to the peak. I was
surprised to find how fast the stranger had come on. I made out that
she was a large square topsail schooner. On she stood, making directly,
and evidently purposely, for the island.

"Could it be possible that Mr Henley or any of the crew of the _Orion_
have escaped and given information of our being left on the island?" I