eck and appealing for help. I have still a copy
of the document in my possession, which runs as follows:--

"Yacht _Stella Maris_; New York Yacht Club, U.S.A.;
Mrs Cornelia Vansittart, Owner.
Latitude -- North; Longitude -- East.

"To all whom it may concern.

"The full-rigged, auxiliary-screw yacht _Stella Maris_, stranded on an
uncharted coral reef, situate in the above-mentioned position, during
the night of Wednesday the -- day of December, 19--, with the lamentable
loss of all hands excepting the owner, her son and daughter, chief
officer Walter Leigh, of Newton Ferrers, Devonshire, England; Lizette
Charpentier, chief stewardess, and Susie Blaine, second stewardess, both
of New York, U.S.A.

"As the only land in sight is a very small, bare sandbank, quite
uninhabitable, the above-named survivors are remaining upon the wreck,
which, although totally dismasted and badly bilged, will afford them a
refuge so long as the weather remains fine, but may break up during the
next gale that chances to occur.

"Mrs Vansittart offers a reward of ten thousand dollars (American), and
the reimbursement of all expenses incurred, to the person or persons who
will effect the rescue of herself and her companions in misfortune; and
the finder of this document is earnestly besought to make public its
contents as soon as found.

Signed: "Cornelia Vansittart."

The first copy of this appeal was dispatched that very day, by the
simple process of wrapping it carefully in oiled silk, inserting it in
an empty bottle, which was tightly corked and sealed, and heaving it
overboard to take its chance. As I stood watching the bottle's progress
I was gratified to see that there was a one-knot current setting across
the reef, which I hoped would carry it clear into the open sea; though
whether it would ever be found by anyone capable of making intelligent
use of it was quite another matter. The chances of it being seen were
small, and of its recovery still less. But I determined to increase
both before dispatching the next message; and this I did by routing out
some paint and setting the boy Julius to the task of painting a number
of bottles all over in alternate bands of red and white. An ordinary
floating bottle might be seen and passed without the smallest effort to
pick it up, even though all the conditions for recovery should be
favourable. But I argued that if a bottle were seen bearing
distinguishi