OR THE DESERT ISLAND. 69

very awkward in their performance. In this conjuncture
his good sense made amends for his want of experience :
for, after a little consideration, he set about gathering the
dry moss from about the rocks ; and collecting the rays of
the sun in the focus of a telescope glass that he found in
his pocket, he procured himself fire, and roasted enough of
the turtle’s meat to last him for several days.

The sun, which for several days had been for long in-
tervals hid behind masses of dense clouds, now burst forth
in his fullest splendour, and seemed to presage a long
drought—that dread scourge so common to these latitudes.
Charles, to avoid the sun, now darting its burning perpen-
dicular rays on his bare head, took refuge in his cavern, ~
the temperature of which was about that of a half-heated
oven.

Nearly stifled by the closeness of the air, he thought of
the valley which Philip had taken in possession, and thither
he directed his feeble steps ; but he found it not extensive
enough in his conceit to afford shelter to two hostile indi-
viduals. Returning to his rocky den, he resolved to make
that very evening the tour of the island, in hopes of finding
some shady vale, like that of Philip’s, in which he might
rest his wearied limbs.

But what was his despair when, after a most tiresome