was driven by it away from the
land. The utmost that could be done was to keep the boat directly
before the seas, and they soon lost all hope of being able to rescue any
one from the burning wreck, while every moment they themselves expected
to founder. At length, through the darkness, they saw a huge mass
bearing down upon them. They shouted and shrieked. Their voices were
mercifully heard through the gale by those on board the ship. Sail was
immediately shortened. She was hove to. At that very moment the wind
ceased, preparatory to another blow, when it changed its direction, and
they were enabled to get safely on board. The ship proved to be a large
Indiaman, with a number of passengers on board; and the captain said
that he could not venture to heave to, even with the prospect of the
gale abating, to enable them to return to the island in the morning.
The burning ship was seen a long way astern, and he spoke of the great
responsibility he felt of delaying his voyage, even for the time
necessary to beat up to her. Still, he could not bear the thought of
allowing any of his fellow-creatures to perish without endeavouring to
rescue them. The ship was hauled on a wind under close reefed topsails,
and stood towards the burning ship. When, however, little more than
half a mile off she was seen to blow up, and instantly the spot where
she had been was shrouded in darkness. They sailed over it and across
it several times, but not a sign of a boat or raft could be discovered.
Once more, therefore, the Indiaman stood on her course; and Mr Henley
still remained uncertain whether or not the _Orion_ was the ship which
was burned. The Indiaman touched at Point de Galle, in Ceylon, to land
passengers, and here Mr Henley and his three companions went on shore,
and, reporting himself to the authorities, endeavoured to obtain a
vessel to come to the island to take us off. Some of the passengers of
the Indiaman had supplied him with the means of existence, and
introduced him to several of the merchants at Point de Galle, or he
would not have been able to remain there. Week after week passed, and
though ships appeared there was some other employment for them. Happily
for us Mr Henley was a man who, having once promised to do a thing, did
his very utmost to fulfil it.

At length, after waiting many months, the _Star_ corvette, Captain
Armstrong, came in. He gladly undertook to visit the island and to
bring us off; which