“I’ll go up to the spring, and have a wash,” Harry decided. “I won’t wake anybody, for there’s no hurry about waking up.”
Returning from the spring, Harry for the first time looked in the direction of the ship. What he saw filled him with amazement. The wreck which he had thought deserted, was alive with men. He saw a dozen on deck, including two who were obviously not sailors. He could not immediately discern the figures, and ran hastily to the top of the bluff. Then he made the startling discovery that these intruders were the captain and his companions, who had abandoned the ship in the expectation that it was doomed, and, after floating about in the long boat, had by a wonderful coincidence drifted to the very point which they themselves had reached.
The news was too important to keep, and he returned to the encampment, and entering, approached the mate, who was sleeping soundly. He leaned over and shook him gently.
“Mr. Holdfast!” he cried.
The mate slowly opened his eyes and started up.
“What’s the matter?” he asked. “Has anything happened?”
“I’ve got great news for you, Mr. Holdfast. Captain Hill has arrived.”
“What!” exclaimed the mate, in amazement. “Arrived—where?”
“He is at this moment on the Nantucket, with all the men that accompanied him in the long boat.”
Uttering an expression of amazement, Mr. Holdfast sprang from the ground, and hastily made his way to the edge of the bluff.