A SHIPWRECK — HIDDEN TREASURE. 69 



part of tlie passengers and crew reached the island, and 

 scaled the cliff; here they remained for several days, 

 existing on a wild cabbage that is indigenous to the 

 island. They were much depressed, until one morn- 

 ing they descried a ship beating up for the island. 

 She proved to be the whaling barque Monmouth, of 

 Cold Springs ; her captain, all honor to him, and no 

 less to his faithful messenger, sent one of his crew 

 across the island to communicate with the distressed 

 ones. He directed them to cross the island, as at the 

 side they then were it would be impossible to land 

 a boat. This, although comparatively a short dis- 

 tance, they were all one day and part of the next 

 accomplishing — the rugged, steep way, their en- 

 feebled condition, and the presence of ladies and 

 children, delaying them. The Monmouth's boats, 

 as soon as possible, conveyed them aboard their vessel, 

 where they received every attention tlieir condition 

 required, and were conveyed to the Mauritius, where 

 they were disembarked. 'Now for the romantic part 

 of the story. It appears that in the general confusion, 

 several bags of English sovereigns, that were carried 

 from the wrecked ship ashore, were deposited, as it 

 was supposed, in a secure place, and left on the island. 

 This was communicated to the captain of the Tus- 

 cany, and, as the report goes, he had run close in 

 with his ship, landed, and found the money; but at 

 the moment of his grasping it, he discovered his ship 

 in a perilous position. The second officer, who was 

 left in charge, from incapacity or ignorance, had run 

 her ashore. Circumstances occurred, during his stay 

 on the island, that rendered it impossible to bring 

 away the gold, the existence of which, whether 



