ake, but in
memory of my misfortunes.

Fifteen days after we reached the island, and found my three companions,
but in a miserable condition. For they were left without provisions and
with hardly any fresh water, every necessary being on board the ship;
and when we arrived they had been five days without eating or drinking,
and were too weak to crawl in search of food. But now, for the time
being, their misfortunes were ended, and I cannot describe the joy with
which they welcomed us after having almost despaired of any human help.

[Illustration: Falconer returns to his companions]

We soon set out again in the Spanish ship, and by-and-by, not without a
number of adventures on the way, we reached Jamaica, where I met with my
old shipmates, who were very much surprised to see me, thinking that I
had been lost in the sea many months ago. The ship had hung lights out
for several hours that I might know where to swim, but all to no
purpose, as I could see nothing through the darkness of the storm. I
found that the captain was very ill, and went to visit him on shore. He
told me that he did not expect to live long, and was glad I had come to
take charge of the ship, which would have sailed before if he had been
fit to command her. A week after he died, entrusting me with the
management of his affairs, and messages to his wife, who lived at
Bristol.

We set sail for England on June 1, 1700, and on August 21 we discovered
the Land's End. How rejoiced I was to see England once more, let them
judge that have escaped so many perils as I had done. My first task when
I reached Bristol was to inquire for my father; but a bitter
disappointment awaited me. He was dead, broken down before his time by
grief and misfortune. I could not bear to stay on shore, where
everything reminded me of him, and, for all my delight in coming back to
England, it was not long before I set sail again in quest of fresh
adventures.

FOOTNOTE:

[31] London, 1720.

_MARBOT'S MARCH_

I HAVE now [says General Marbot, speaking of his Spanish campaign]
reached one of the most terrible experiences of my military career.
Marshal Lannes had just won a great victory, and the next day, after
having received the reports of the generals, he wrote his despatch for
one of our officers to take to the Emperor. Napoleon's practice was to
give a step to the officer who brought him the news of an important
success, and the marshals on their side entrusted