OR THE DESERT ISLAND. 149

broken my good resolutions, in yielding to intemperance of
language; but I will do my best to avoid falling again
into the same fault.”

While they were conversing the ship had got near enough
to enable them to distinguish the large vessel with greater
accuracy.

“It is a French ship of the line, though equipped like a
Portuguese vessel,” cried out Charles in an ecstasy of
joy.

“Jt is the Achilles herself!” exclaimed Philip, as he
examined her figure-head with the count’s glass.

The sight of that ship filled Merville’s mind with a
thousand bitter remembrances. In a melancholy mood he
seated himself on a cannon; while the count, half dis-
tracted with joy, besought the sailors to get along faster.
He wept and laughed by turns, and acted so extravagantly

_that the captain observed that this young Frenchman was
the most singular man with whom he had ever sailed.

“Oh my dear uncle! my heroic captain! I shall see
you again,” he exclaimed, as the ship came to anchor at
the very side of the Achilles. In a moment he was on
her deck, to the speechless astonishment of the officers and
crew.

The noise and commotion, and then the cheering of the