of night, thrown upon a
strange shore, and surrounded by enemies, the thought, perhaps, that
they might never again see their native land or their beloved kindred,
might steal over their hearts, and fill them with sad forebodings. By
degrees the fire became less and less vivid; for an instant, at times,
a brighter flame illuminated the sky, throwing up a shower of golden
sparks--then all was darkness,--a darkness which was felt by all; for
it told that nought remained of their old home, save a smouldering
hull,--that thus was severed, perhaps, the last link between them and
England.

During the night that followed this sad scene, an incident occurred
which, though it occasioned considerable alarm at the time, became a
source of amusement afterwards.

A sentry, startled by the approach of a very suspicious looking
personage, who was making towards him, levelled his musket and fired.
In an instant the whole camp was alive with excitement, supposing that
they were attacked by the savages, when; behold, the enemy turned out
to be a large baboon, one of a race that abounded in the island. These
creatures became very troublesome; they were most audacious thieves,
and even carried away several ducks which had been saved from the
wreck; till at last the poor birds were so frightened that they left
their little enclosure and voluntarily sought for safety and
protection amongst the people.

From the morning of Sunday, the 23rd, till Wednesday, the 26th, the
men were busied in saving whatever they could from the hull of the
Alceste, and they were fortunate enough to obtain several casks of
flour, a few cases of wine, and a cask of beer, besides between fifty
and sixty boarding-pikes, and eighteen muskets, all of which proved
most acceptable.

A second well had been sunk, which supplied clearer water, and in
great abundance, so that they possessed one of the chief necessaries
of life in plenty.

Everything now wore a more favourable aspect. The Malays had retired
behind a little island (called Palo Chalacca, or Misfortune's Isle),
about two miles distant; and although they were expected to return
speedily with a reinforcement, the crew of the Alceste were better
prepared for them. The gunner had been actively employed in forming
musket cartridges; and, by melting down some pewter basons and jugs,
with a small quantity of lead obtained from the wreck, balls had been
cast, in clay moulds, which not a little increased their co