and no sooner had the pale light of early morn driven
away the darkness of night, than, opening his eyes, he crept out of the
tent over Bird, who had just dropped off. "I will let the rest sleep
on, and see how things look," he said to himself. As he made his way
over the fallen trunks towards the bay, he kept looking out to discover
some accessible part of the hill, by which he might climb to the summit
of the rock, under whose shelter they had slept, and which he supposed
to be the highest point thereabouts, in order that he might obtain a
wide view of the ocean around. He at length found a part, from whence
by a little climbing he might reach the top of the hill. He had began
his ascent, when he heard Desmond's voice shouting to him, and sitting
down he waited for his messmate to come up. The rock was more rugged
and uneven than they had at first supposed. Sometimes Desmond helped
him up to a ledge, then he hauled Desmond after him. Here and there
shrubs grew in the crevices of the rock, which assisted them in their
ascent. At last they stood together on the top. On casting their eyes
around, they could nowhere see the ship; indeed, they scarcely expected
that she would have been in sight. As far as the eye could range to the
southward and eastward, foam-crested giant waves leaped up and down, but
already their motion was becoming less rapid, and they seemed to be
tumbling lazily and slowly against each other, as if weary of their late
exertions, though the breakers incessantly burst on the rocky coast,
sending masses of foam flying far inland.

"Even should the ship appear, we are not likely to be able to get out to
her to-day," observed Desmond, pointing to the entrance of the bay,
through which the seas came tossing and foaming. "It seems a wonder how
we got through last night."

"We may indeed be thankful to heaven that we were not swamped," said
Tom; "but I should not be surprised if we find, within a few hours,
should the ship appear, that we can get off to her. There has scarcely
been time for the sea to go down since the hurricane ceased blowing; I
do hope that the other boats got on board, or they will have run great
risk of being lost."

"Perhaps our shipmates landed," observed Desmond; "and we shall meet
them before long. I should be very glad to know for certain that Archie
and Jos Green and Mr Joy are safe, though it is a terrible thing to
think that the ship may have been cast away."

"