anything like the size of a ship, the rock, or
rather the islet, proved to be nearly a mile in circumference, though
when first discovered only the conical rock in the centre had been seen,
the lower portion being very little above the level of the water. As
soon as the man discovered us approaching, he ran down from his lofty
post towards us. Why, I could not tell; I almost expected to see
Alfred. We had to pull round some way before, guided by the signs he
made, we could find a passage through the reefs. At length, however,
one was found, and dashing through it, we were soon close to the shore.
But even before we touched it, the man plunged into the water in his
eagerness to meet us. I looked eagerly, but I soon saw that it was not
Alfred. He was an oldish, roughish-looking man, and had all the
appearance of a seaman.

"Thank Heaven, friends, that have been sent to save me," he exclaimed,
as he was helped into the boat; "I don't think I could have held out
many days longer. I have been living on dried whale's flesh and
shell-fish for I don't know how many months past, and I was beginning to
feel the scurvy breaking out in me; but all's right now; I've no fear."

Mr D'Arcy wished to have a look at the rock before leaving it, so he
and I, and one of the midshipmen, landed. Our idea of its being the
extinct crater of a marine volcano was undoubtedly correct. At the foot
of the cone was a pool, deep and clear, of pure fresh water, forced up
it must have been from beneath the ocean. On one side of the islet were
the remains of a large sperm whale, the flesh of which had supplied the
poor man with food. He had also constructed a hut very neatly out of
the bones, near the top of the crater. Already young palm-trees and a
variety of vegetable productions were springing up round the base of the
cone, so that this spot in a few years hence may afford ample support to
any one cast away on it. After a very cursory inspection of the place
we hurried back to the boat, and returned on board.

The rescued man expressed himself most grateful for the assistance
afforded him. He did not, however, at first say much about himself,
merely observing that he had gone through a great number of adventures,
and had at last, after having been a prisoner among the blacks, and
effected his escape, been wrecked three months before on this rock, when
he was the only person whose life had been saved.

"And what is your name, my man?