“Why, sir, no one knew whether we were in existence or not, and probably we never should have been searched for; but now we have made it known, and by the ship’s name on the flag they know who we are, and, if they arrive safe in port, will not fail to communicate the intelligence to your friends. Is not that a great deal to be thankful for? We may not be taken off by this vessel, but we have every hope that another will be sent out to us.”
“Very true, Ready; I ought to have seen that before; but my despair and disappointment were yesterday so great, that it almost took away my reason.”
The gale continued during the day, and showed no symptoms of abatement, when they again retired for the night. The following day Ready was up early, as usual, and William accompanied him to the beach.
“I don’t think that it blows so hard as it did, Ready.”
“No, William, it does not; the gale is breaking, and by night, I have no doubt, will be over. It is, however, useless looking for the vessel, as she must be a long way from this. It would take her a week, perhaps, to come back to us if she was to try to do so, unless the wind should change to the northward or westward.”
“Ready! Ready!” exclaimed William, pointing to the south-east part of the reef; “what is that? Look! it’s a boat.”
Ready put his telescope to his eye. “It’s a canoe, William, and there are people in it.”
“Why, where can they have come from? See! they are among the breakers; they will be lost. Let us go towards them, Ready.”
They hastened along the beach to the spot nearest to where the canoe was tossing on the surf, and watched it as it approached the shore.
“William, this canoe must have been blown off from the large island, which lies out there;” and Ready again looked through his telescope: “there are two people in it, and they are islanders. Poor things! they struggle hard for their lives, and seem much exhausted; but they have passed through the most dangerous part of the reef.”