HISTORY OF TWO BROTHERS. 



197 



on the island; trusting that Providence might 

 protect them^ they put to sea in their open boat^ 

 and reached Valdivia in safety^ a distance of about 

 thirty-five miles^ where they soon learnt that the 

 Dane had landed, and spread a report of not be- 

 ing able to reach Mocha, that he had sold all their 

 property, and gone in the vessel they knew not 

 where — this was a death-blow to all their prospects. 

 Nothing now remained for poor George but to 

 convey this mournful intelligence back to his bro- 

 ther, whom it may be supposed was most anxi- 

 ously awaiting the result of his mission, inde- 

 pendent of anxiety for his personal safety. 



They embarked again in their little boat, and 

 with most sorrowful hearts put out to sea, in or- 

 der to return to their solitary island: they had 

 not been many hours launched upon the deep 

 when the clouds began to lour, and the sea to 

 rise in troubled motion, which showed every in- 

 dication of a coming storm ; the wild gulls flut- 

 tered over their unprotected heads, and scream- 

 ing with affright, geemed to confirm what their 



