store of
grain.

We made a plan that Carl and Jaf should go back to the main land, to
try if they could get some of the white men who had been cast on shore
there, to come and live with us; so they got out the boat, and took
with them two guns and food for eight days. They were to come back in a
week's time, and I bade them hang out a sign when they came in sight, so
that we might know who they were.

One day, Friday ran up to me in great glee, and said, "They are back!
They are back!" A mile from shore, there was a boat with a sail, which
stood in for the land; but I knew it could not be the one which our two
friends had gone out in, for it was on the wrong side of the isle for
that. I saw too, through my glass, a ship out at sea. There were twelve
men in the boat, three of whom were bound in chains, and four had fire
arms.

Bye and bye, I saw one of the men raise his sword to those who were
in chains, and I felt sure that all was not right. Then I saw that the
three men who had been bound were set free; and when they had come on
shore they lay on the ground, in the shade of a tree. I was soon at
their side, for their looks, so sad and worn, brought to my mind the
first few hours I had spent in this wild spot, where all to me was wrapt
in gloom.

I went up to these men, and said:

"Who are you, Sirs?"

They gave a start at my voice and at my strange dress, and made a move
as if they would fly from me. I said, "Do not fear me, for it may be
that you have a friend at hand, though you do not think it." "He must be
sent from the sky then," said one of them with a grave look; and he took
off his hat to me at the same time. "All help is from thence, Sir," I
said; "but what can I do to aid you? You look as if you had some load of
grief on your breast. I saw one of the men lift his sword as if to kill
you."

The tears ran down the poor man's face, as he said,

"Is this a god, or is it but a man?" "Have no doubt on that score, Sir,"
said I, "for a god would not have come with a dress like this. No, do
not fear--nor raise your hopes too high; for you see but a man, yet one
who will do all he can to help you. Your speech shows me that you come
from the same land as I do. I will do all I can to serve you. Tell me
your case." "Our case, Sir, is too long to you while they who would kill
us are so near. My name is Paul. To be short, Sir, my crew have thrust
me out of my ship, which you see out there, and have left me here