OR THE DESERT ISLAND. 55

with water, and soon procured a large quantity of cocoa.
_ huts—an agreeable refreshment these for the poor sufferers
he had left aboard ship.

Whilst thus occupied, Charles summoned them to the
shore, where he had remained watching the boat: .

“ Hurry, comrades,” he called out to them, “the wind
is freshening; let us push off, or we shall not reach the ship
before night.”

The sailors got the casks and fruit speedily aboard,
and once more ventured among the breakers. Theystrug-
gled against them with all their strength. The wind blew
from the shore, and became every moment more and more
violent. At length the billows became so powerful, that,
notwithstanding their efforts, an enormous wave broke over
the boat, and buried her and ‘her unfortunate crew be-
neath its weight.

The ship’s company were witnesses of this ‘awful catas-
trophe; but it was not in their power to afford their com-
panions any succour, the storm having left the Achilles
in the most destitute condition. Shortly afterwards the
wind drove her out to sea, and they. lost sight of this fatal
island.

The boat’s crew contended manfully for life, but three of
the five that formed it were old men worn out by recent

c#