"What does this mean?" he demanded.
"You are the first white man we have seen in more than a year," cried Hugh.
"We have seen none but savages," added she, tears of happiness starting afresh down her cheeks.
"You were wrecked?" exclaimed the sailor, appalled.
It was an incoherent recital that the two poured into his ears, first one, then the other talking excitedly, but it was not long before he was in possession of all the facts.
"You were on the Tempest Queen," he cried, doubting his ears.
"Was no one saved?" they cried breathlessly.
"The captain and five or six passengers, I think, were picked up, almost starved, in a boat, some days after the wreck. All others were lost."
"Who were the passengers?" asked Hugh, trembling with eagerness.
"I don't recall the names."