Year: 1876

CHAPTER V.


THE MYSTERY OF COFFIN ISLAND.
A short survey showed him this. 1t
showed him also that there was but little !
if any hope Of Sustaining life, and that he
had escaped browning only perhaps to per-
ish by the more lingering agonies Of star
vation.
Already hunger and thirst had begun to
be felt, and how to satisfy these wants he
kne'N not. Still he would not despair. \
Perhaps the Jayo might return in search
1f him. and his confinement would only |
Last far day or 80.
He understood the act Of Cigole in way
that was satisfactory to himself. He had
thrown him overheard, but had made it
appear like al accident. As he fell he had
heard the shout "Man overboard!' and
was now able to account for it in this way.
So faint hope remained that the captain
of the Java would not give him up.
Still subsistence Of some kind was neces-
sary, and there was nothing to be done
but to explore the sandy tract before him.
Setting forth he walked toward the rock
along the sea-shore. On one side toward
the north the shore was shallow and
slooped gently into the water; but on the
southern side it descended more abruptly.
The tide was out Asteep beach appeared
here covered with stones to which myrlads
of shell-fsh were attached. The sight OF
khese suggested the idea to him that on the
opposite side there might be CLAIMS in the
sand. He walked over there in search OF
them. Here the sloope was so gradual
that extensive flats were left uncovered by
the receding tide.


When boy he had been something &C.
customed to wander on sand flats near his
home, and dig up these clans in sport.
Now his ooylsh experience became useful.
MyriAds of little holes dotted the sand,
which he knew to be the indications OF
these molluscs, and he at once began to
scoop in the sand with his hands, In a short
tine he had found enough to satisfy his
hunger and what was better, he saw al
around an unlimited supply Of such food.


Yet food was not enough, Drink was
equally necessary. The salt Of these she'll
fish aggravated the thirst that he had al
ready begun to feel, and now a fear came
over him that there might be no water.
The search seemed a hopeless one; but ne
determined to seek for it nevertheless, and
the only place that seemed to promise
SUCCESS was the rock at the east end. Toward
this he now once more directed his steps


The island was all of sand except the
rocks on the south beach aud the cliff at
the eastern end. Coarse grass grew very
extensively over the surface, but the sand
was fine and loose, and in many places
thrown up into heaps Of many different
shapes. The grass grew in tufts or IN spires
and blades, thinly scattered, and nowhere
forming sod. The soil was difficult te
walk over, and Brandon sought the beach,
where the damp sand afforded a tlrmel
foothold. In about an hour and half nj
reached the rock.


II was between five and six hundred feel
In length, and about fifty in height, there
WAS no resemblance to coffin now
rs Brandon approached it, for that like
bess WAS only discernible at distance


Its sides were steep and precipitous. II
was one black solid mass, without any
outlying crags, or any fragments near it
its upper surface appeared to be level, ane 4
In various places it was very easy to ascend
Up one Of these places Brandon climbed
and soon stood on the top.


Near him the summit was somewha
rounded: at the farther end ii was fiat ant
irregular: but between the two ends 1t sanE
into deep hollow, where he saw tina
which at once excited tumult ofhope AM
fear. 1t was pool of water at least NIT.
feet in diameter, and deep too, since tn
sides of the rock went down steeply. Bu
was it fresh or salt? Was it the accumula
ton from the shower. Of the rainy sesso'
of the tropics, or was it but the result OF IN
past nights storm, which had hurled way'
after wave here till the hollow was hlleo


With hasty footsteps he rushed towar'
the margin Of the poole, and bent down t.


aste. For a moment or so, by very ma


tursl feeling, he hssitated, then, throwln


otf the fever of suspense, he bent down
kneeling on the margin, till his lips touche
the water.


1t was fresh! Yes, it was from the heay
ems above, and not from the sea peleW. . i =
was the fresh rains from the SKY that !. na '
filled this deep pool, and not the spray irol o.
the sea. Again and again he quafeo IA
refreshing LIQUID. Not trace OF tne Bal


water coul be detected. 1t was natura
cistern which thus lay before him, iorme
as though for the reception Of the raln' fo
the present, at least, he was safe; .,


He had food and drink. AS long az ", -
rainy season lasted, and for some timg h, :
ter, life was secure. Life becomes ooID.
sweet after being purchased BY suen s,e enor' or