"Do you know what that land is?" I asked, pointing to it; for with the increasing light it was now seen clearly from the deck. "Why, it's no other than Robinson Crusoe's island--Juan Fernandes; and my father says he intends to run in there, as it will be more convenient to repair damages at anchor; and he thinks that very likely the gale may come back again on us. Won't it be jolly to go on shore and to see the very cave he lived in, and the sand where he first saw Friday's foot-mark, and the descendants of the goats he had, and various other animals? I am certain I could find out every spot of ground he talks about. There's no place I would rather see than this." "So would I," I observed. "But you forget, Jerry, there was no such person as Robinson Crusoe. We may be disappointed when we get there." "I won't believe it!" he answered, indignantly. "There was, and there must have been, and there shall have been a Robinson Crusoe! How could he have written his life if he had not lived, I should like to know?" "There was a man called Alexander Selkirk, who was left there from one of Lord Anson's ships, and a first-rate writer--Daniel Defoe by name-- got hold of his account, on which he founded the story of Robinson Crusoe," I answered. "I tell you that is all bosh," said Jerry. "I don't believe that any man who had not gone through every scene he describes, could have given as good an account of them as does Robinson Crusoe; so I intend to stick to my belief, and not care what anybody else says on the subject." I must own that I felt very much inclined to agree with Jerry, and to look on Defoe very much in the light of a pirate, who had got hold of a ship which did not belong to him. The important discussion was cut short by the report of the first mate, who had again gone aloft with his glass to take another look at the object seen ahead. "As far as I can see, I've no doubt that it is the hull of a ship floating bottom uppermost," he sung out; "but whether any one is still clinging to her or not, is more than I can make out." "Get one of the boats ready, Mr Brand; we'll board the wreck, at all events," said the captain. While the boat was quickly prepared, we made good progress towards the wreck. "There is a man on her; I can see him clearly," sung out the third mate from forward. "He is lying along the keel. He is alive; he sees us; he is waving to us."