This announcement made Humphry even more agitated than Ned. He hurried to the spot where the boat could be seen.
She made her way up the harbour. Humphry and his companion went down to meet her. An officer-like looking man stepped on shore, accompanied by another in dark clothes. They seemed much surprised at seeing Humphry and Ned.
“What! are you Englishmen?” asked one of the strangers. “We only discovered the island this morning, and had no expectation of finding it inhabited.”
Humphry explained that they were the only inhabitants; that he had been left there some years before, and, pointing to Ned, said, “This man was afterwards wrecked on the coast, and he alone was saved from his ship.”
“I am Captain Summers of the Hope, now lying in the offing. This gentleman is the Reverend Mr Evans, a missionary, whom I am conveying to an island where he is about to settle. What is your name?” asked the officer.
Humphry told him.
“And my name is Tom Martin,” said Ned coming forward, greatly to Humphry’s surprise.
“Well, my friends, it seems but a barren island. I wonder how you have managed to live here so long.”
Humphry briefly explained the various means by which he had procured food, and leading the way to the garden, showed them the perfect cultivation into which it had been brought. He then invited Captain Summers and Mr Evans into his hut. His Testament lay open on the table. The latter took it up, observing—
“I am glad to see, my young friend, that you have not been deprived of God’s Word during your long stay here.”