144 THE SHIPWRECK,

CHAPTER XXI.
Departure from the Desert Isle — Nothing Degrading but Vice.

Tue ship was a Portuguese merchantman. The count,
who spoke the Spanish language, had no difficulty in
making the captain understand him ; and he took passage
for Rio Janeiro, whither the vessel was bound.

About to quit the island, Philip bade a sad farewell to
the cabin in which he had passed so many happy hours,
and carried his few effects to the boat. He rejoined the
count, who was carving on the cross at the summit of the
rock the following inscription :

“On the 3d of June, A. D. 1771, Count Charles D’Es-
taing, lieutenant, and Philip Merville, mariner, of the
man-of-war Achilles, in the service of his majesty Louis
XV., king of France and Navarre, were, by the favour
of Providence, saved from a watery grave, and thrown
on this desert isle ; where, after many sufferings and pri-
vations, resigned to their lot, they passed together, in a