8 CRUSOE'S ISLAND. 



about him he uttered a cry of joy. For that last great 

 wave had thrown the vessel over the reef of coral and 

 into a sheltered harbor. We were floating in calm 

 water, for the moment as safe as though tied up to 

 the dock at home. An anchor was let go and the 

 pumps tried, which soon showed that no leak had 

 started, the only damage being to the unshipped 

 rudder. 



The captain consulted with his officers, and it was 

 decided that the rudder could be rigged with chains 

 until Trinidad was reached, where the vessel could be 

 overhauled. It was then explained to me that the 

 vessel had been caught by one of those strong currents 

 from the Orinoco, which had drifted her in upon To- 

 bago shore before the helmsman and the watch were 

 aware of their peril. 



Daylight revealed our position, close under the 

 shadow of a high promontory, right abreast a deep 

 bay with white, sandy beach. An exclamation of 

 delight burst from me as I saw the beauties of that 

 tropic strand unfolded in the brightening dawn. 

 This was the island I had sought ; more beautiful 

 than any dream of mine, at last it lay before me ! 



At first the captain would not hear of my going 

 ashore alone, for there was no house in sight, no evi- 

 dence whatever of the presence of human beings. 

 But I finally convinced him that this was the very 

 thing I desired ; that I had come here to live a life of 

 seclusion ; to dwell apart from men after the manner 

 of my great predecessor, Crusoe. So he finally yield- 

 ed, gathered together my " traps," added to my scant 



