HOW I FOUND THE ISLAND. 9 



stores a barrel of beef and '' hard tack," put them all 

 in the boat, and himself accompanied me to the little 

 beach lying between the great cliffs which broke out 

 of the dense forest. 



Then he took me aside for a little talk. It does 

 not matter what he said ; but our eyes were a trifle 

 moist as he turned to go, and the pressure of his big 

 hand remained in mine long after he had disappeared. 

 Then I sat down beneath a palm and tried to get fa- 

 miliar with a new feeling of loneliness, as a last fare- 

 well was shouted to me, and a projecting promontory 

 hid the last flock of sail from sight. 



I had been taken at my word, and left alone. At 

 length my dream was realized, and my feet pressed 

 the soil of Tobago, the island of Crusoe's adventures. 



