no one is using
them. They lie athwart the tholes, their blades dipping in the water,
with no hand upon the grasp.

And yet the boat is not empty. Seven human forms are seen within it,--
six of them living, and one dead.

Of the living, four are full-grown men; three of them white, the fourth
of an umber-brown, or _bistre_ colour. One of the white men is tall,
dark and bearded, with features bespeaking him either a European or an
American, though their somewhat elongated shape and classic regularity
would lead to a belief that he is the latter, and in all probability a
native of New York. And so he is.

The features of the white man sitting nearest to him are in strange
contrast to his, as is also the colour of his hair and skin. The hair
is of a carroty shade, while his complexion, originally reddish, through
long exposure to a tropical sun exhibits a yellowish, freckled
appearance. The countenance so marked is unmistakably of Milesian type.
So it should be, as its owner is an Irishman.

The third white man, of thin, lank frame, with face almost beardless,
pale cadaverous cheeks, and eyes sunken in their sockets, and there
rolling wildly, is one of those nondescripts who may be English, Irish,
Scotch, or American. His dress betokens him to be a seaman, a common
sailor.

He of the brown complexion, with flat spreading nose, high cheek-bones,
oblique eyes, and straight, raven black hair, is evidently a native of
the East, a Malay.

The two other living figures in the boat are those of a boy and girl.
They are white. They differ but little in size, and but a year or two
in age, the girl being fourteen and the boy about sixteen. There is
also a resemblance in their features. They are brother and sister.

The fourth white, who lies dead in the bottom of the boat, is also
dressed in seaman's clothes, and has evidently in his lifetime been a
common sailor.

It is but a short time since the breath departed from his body; and
judging by the appearance of the others, it may not be long before they
will all follow him into another world. How weak and emaciated they
appear, as if in the last stage of starvation! The boy and girl lie
along the stern-sheets, with wasted arms, embracing each other. The
tall man sits on one of the benches, gazing mechanically upon the corpse
at his feet; while the other three also have their eyes upon it, though
with very different expressions. That upon the face of the Irishma