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I saw it first。 Arnold Bentham； his own death accepted； and Captain
Nicholl； well nigh accepting death； lay rolling like loose…bodied
dead men in the boat's bottom； and I was steering when I saw it。
The boat； foaming and surging with the swiftness of wind in its
sail； was uplifted on a crest； when； close before me； I saw the sea…
battered islet of rock。 It was not half a mile off。 I cried out；
so that the other two； kneeling and reeling and clutching for
support； were peering and staring at what I saw。
〃Straight for it； Daniel；〃 Captain Nicholl mumbled command。 〃There
may be a cove。 There may be a cove。 It is our only chance。〃
Once again he spoke； when we were atop that dreadful lee shore with
no cove existent。
〃Straight for it； Daniel。 If we go clear we are too weak ever to
win back against sea and wind。〃
He was right。 I obeyed。 He drew his watch and looked； and I asked
the time。 It was five o'clock。 He stretched out his hand to Arnold
Bentham； who met and shook it weakly； and both gazed at me； in their
eyes extending that same hand…clasp。 It was farewell； I knew； for
what chance had creatures so feeble as we to win alive over those
surf…battered rocks to the higher rocks beyond？
Twenty feet from shore the boat was snatched out of my control。 In
a trice it was overturned and I was strangling in the salt。 I never
saw my companions again。 By good fortune I was buoyed by the
steering…oar I still grasped； and by great good fortune a fling of
sea； at the right instant； at the right spot； threw me far up the
gentle slope of the one shelving rock on all that terrible shore。 I
was not hurt。 I was not bruised。 And with brain reeling from
weakness I was able to crawl and scramble farther up beyond the
clutching backwash of the sea。
I stood upright； knowing myself saved； and thanking God； and
staggering as I stood。 Already the boat was pounded to a thousand
fragments。 And though I saw them not； I could guess how grievously
had been pounded the bodies of Captain Nicholl and Arnold Bentham。
I saw an oar on the edge of the foam； and at certain risk I drew it
clear。 Then I fell to my knees； knowing myself fainting。 And yet；
ere I fainted； with a sailor's instinct I dragged my body on and up
among the cruel hurting rocks to faint finally beyond the reach of
the sea。
I was near a dead man myself； that night； mostly in stupor； only
dimly aware at times of the extremity of cold and wet that I
endured。 Morning brought me astonishment and terror。 No plant； not
a blade of grass； grew on that wretched projection of rock from the
ocean's bottom。 A quarter of a mile in width and a half mile in
length； it was no more than a heap of rocks。 Naught could I
discover to gratify the cravings of exhausted nature。 I was
consumed with thirst； yet was there no fresh water。 In vain I
tasted to my mouth's undoing every cavity and depression in the
rocks。 The spray of the gale so completely had enveloped every
portion of the island that every depression was filled with water
salt as the sea。
Of the boat remained nothingnot even a splinter to show that a
boat had been。 I stood possessed of my garments； a stout knife； and
the one oar I had saved。 The gale had abated； and all that day；
staggering and falling； crawling till hands and knees bled； I vainly
sought water。
That night； nearer death than ever； I sheltered behind a rock from
the wind。 A heavy shower of rain made me miserable。 I removed my
various coats and spread them to soak up the rain； but； when I came
to wring the moisture from them into my mouth； I was disappointed；
because the cloth had been thoroughly impregnated with the salt of
the ocean in which I had been immersed。 I lay on my back； my mouth
open to catch the few rain…drops that fell directly into it。 It was
tantalizing； but it kept my membranes moist and me from madness。
The second day I was a very sick man。 I； who had not eaten for so
long； began to swell to a monstrous fatnessmy legs； my arms； my
whole body。 With the slightest of pressures my fingers would sink
in a full inch into my skin； and the depressions so made were long
in going away。 Yet did I labour sore in order to fulfil God's will
that I should live。 Carefully； with my hands； I cleaned out the
salt water from every slight hole； in the hope that succeeding
showers of rain might fill them with water that I could drink。
My sad lot and the memories of the loved ones at Elkton threw me
into a melancholy； so that I often lost my recollection for hours at
a time。 This was a mercy； for it veiled me from my sufferings that
else would have killed me。
In the night I was roused by the beat of rain； and I crawled from
hole to hole； lapping up the rain or licking it from the rocks。
Brackish it was； but drinkable。 It was what saved me； for； toward
morning； I awoke to find myself in a profuse perspiration and quite
free of all delirium。
Then came the sun； the first time since my stay on the island； and I
spread most of my garments to dry。 Of water I drank my careful
fill； and I calculated there was ten days' supply if carefully
husbanded。 It was amazing how rich I felt with this vast wealth of
brackish water。 And no great merchant； with all his ships returned
from prosperous voyages； his warehouses filled to the rafters； his
strong…boxes overflowing； could have felt as wealthy as did I when I
discovered； cast up on the rocks； the body of a seal that had been
dead for many days。 Nor did I fail； first； to thank God on my knees
for this manifestation of His ever…unfailing kindness。 The thing
was clear to me： God had not intended I should die。 From the very
first He had not so intended。
I knew the debilitated state of my stomach； and I ate sparingly in
the knowledge that my natural voracity would surely kill me did I
yield myself to it。 Never had sweeter morsels passed my lips； and I
make free to confess that I shed tears of joy； again and again； at
contemplation of that putrefied carcass。
My heart of hope beat strong in me once more。 Carefully I preserved
the portions of the carcass remaining。 Carefully I covered my rock
cisterns with flat stones so that the sun's rays might not evaporate
the precious fluid and in precaution against some upspringing of
wind in the night and the sudden flying of spray。 Also I gathered
me tiny fragments of seaweed and dried them in the sun for an
easement between my poor body and the rough rocks whereon I made my
lodging。 And my garments were drythe first time in days； so that
I slept the heavy sleep of exhaustion and of returning health。
When I awoke to a new day I was another man。 The absence of the sun
did not depress me； and I was swiftly to learn that God； not
forgetting me while I slumbered； had prepared other and wonderful
blessings for me。 I would have fain rubbed my eyes and looked
again； for； as far as I could see； the