RESCUE OF THE SOLITARY, 489

running through them, that tumbled into cascades from rock to rock, aa the
bottom of the valleys, by the course of the neighbouring hilla, waa at any
time broken into a sudden sharp descent, Some particular spots oceurred
in these valloya, where the shade and fragrance of the contiguous wooda, the
loftinoss of the overhanging rocks, and the transparency and frequont falls
of the neighbouring stroams, presented scones of such elegance and dignity
as aro but rarely paralleled in any other part of the globe. It is on this
place, perhaps, that the simple productions of unassisted nature may be said
to excol all the fletitious descriptions of the moat animated imagination.”

In 1708, an expedition againat the French and Spanish was equipped by
sovoral morchants of Bristol, consisting of the uke, of thirty guna, Captain
Woodes Rogers; and the Duchess, of twenty-five guns, Captain Courtney
(afterwards Captain Dover), As they were dostined to act in the South
Seas, they carried Dampier as thoir pilots a post for which he was well fitted
by his nautical experionce. They sailod trom Bristol on the Ist of Augnat;
loft Cork on the Ist of Septomber; anchored at the island of La Granda, off
the Brazilian const, on the 18th of November; doubled Cape Horn in
Decomber ; and on the 8ist of January 1709, camo in sight of Juan Ker-
nandes,

“Slowly,” says Mr, Howoll, ‘the vossels rose into view, and Selkirk could
scarcoly boliove tho sight real; for often had he boon deceived before, They
gradually approached the islind, and he at length ascertained them to be
Knglish, Groat was the tumult of passions that rose in his mind; but the
love of home overpowered thom all, It was late in the afternoon when they
first came in sight; and leat they should sail again without knowing that
there was a person on the island, he prepared a quantity of wood to burn as
soon as it was dark. Ho kept his eye fixed upon them until nightfall, and
thon kindled his fire, and kept it up until morning dawned, His hopes and
fours having banished all desire for sleep, he employed himself in killing
sovoral goats, and in proparing an entertainment for his expected guesta,
knowing how acceptable it would be to them after their long run, with
nothing but salt provisions to live upon,”

The noxt day, about noon, Woodes Rogers sent a boat on shore. The
reader will understand with what delight its approach was observed by the
solitary, and with what eagerness he welcomed his countrymen. He em-
braced them by turns; but at first his excess of joy fettered his voice, and
he could not speak. He had at this time his last shirt upon his back ; hia
feet and legs were bare; the skins of wild animals partly covered his thighs
and body. His beard was of patriarchal length, and a rough goat's skin
cap crowned his unkempt locks, he first transports of happiness over, his
tongue was loosed ; he overwhelmed his visitors with questions, and eagerly
replied to all which they addressed to him, Curiosity satisfled on both sides,
the boat returned to the uke, taking Selkirk with them, who being recom.