shore
before the gale came on. It suddenly occurred to me that they might
have made the attempt, and that the boat might have been wrecked. No
sooner did I think this, than, in spite of the rain, I started up and
rushed down the rock towards the place where we had landed. I looked
around on every side. There was no sign of the boat; but the wild waves
were lashing the rocks with relentless fury, throwing up masses of foam
to the topmost branches of the loftiest trees. To satisfy myself more
thoroughly, I walked completely round the island; no boat, nor even a
fragment, was to be seen; and at length I endeavoured to find the path
to the cavern. I had some difficulty in discovering it, as it was now
growing rapidly dark, the obscurity being increased by the dark masses
of cloud floating in the sky. I fortunately found some plantains, which
I plucked, as also a cocoa-nut; and with these in my hand I retraced my
way back to the cavern. I would have selected any place to rest in
rather than the one where the dead pirate lay; but I knew of no other
where I could obtain shelter, and I did not like to turn the body out to
be exposed to the tempest. He had collected a store of wood, and as I
had my rifle with me, I easily kindled a fire. I was anxious to have a
fire to dry my clothes, which were thoroughly drenched by the rain and
exposure to the spray. This operation being performed, I began to feel
the pangs of hunger; but as I had had but little practical experience of
cookery, I was rather puzzled to know how to dress my plantains. I
tried one under the ashes, but I burnt it to a cinder, and was obliged
to stay my appetite by munching a piece of cocoa-nut, while I was making
a fresh attempt.

I had a knife in my pocket, and by means of it I formed a toasting-fork
out of a thin branch of a shrub, with which I more carefully roasted
another plantain, very much to my satisfaction. It would doubtless have
been better dressed in a more scientific way; but I was too hungry to be
particular. The cocoa-nut served me as dessert; and the spring and some
limes afforded me a most delicious and cooling draught. When my hunger
was appeased, the strangeness of the scene, and the recollection of my
own somewhat critical position, presented themselves to me with greater
force than before. Unless, however, some accident had happened to the
schooner, I felt very sure that she would return as soon as possible to
my rescue.

Th