When this was done, they went to Britomarte’s grotto, and concealed as many of the most valuable articles there as they could find a hiding place for. Then they walked down to the beach in the direction from which they expected to see the strange ship. They had no need to use their telescope now. As soon as they reached the sands they saw the ship at anchor in the little cove, while from her masthead flew the strange flag. While they gazed, a boat put off from the ship and rowed rapidly toward the shore. In ten minutes it touched the sands. The six oarsmen laid on their oars; and the one officer, in a uniform as strange as his flag, stood up in the bows and lifted his hat in courteous salutation to the islanders. “I had not expected to find civilized people in this outlandish place,” he said, in English, to Justin, who came forward to meet him. “You are welcome,” said Justin, offering his hand. “I had no idea that there was a European colony here! What is it—English?” inquired the stranger, stepping on the shore, and again lifting his hat and bowing politely to the women. “There is no colony. We are not colonists. We were cast away on this island nearly two years ago,” said Justin. “Cast away!” echoed the stranger, recoiling in dismay. “Yes. We were passengers in the East Indiaman, _Sultana_, bound from Boston to Calcutta, and which was wrecked upon these rocks below.” “And so that was the fate of the missing _Sultana_!” said the stranger, gravely. “That was her fate,” repeated Justin. “Were any of her crew or passengers saved besides yourselves?” “We cannot tell! They took to the lifeboats! The first boat that left the ship sailed for the open sea, and we never heard of her fate. The second one attempted to reach the land, and was swamped. This lady and her companion were in that second boat when it went down. They were saved by means of the life-preservers that had been fastened round their waists. They were thrown on shore by the waves. The remainder of their boat’s crew perished, I fear.” “And yourself?” “The captain and myself were left on the wreck. The captain was washed overboard by a great wave. I escaped only by clinging fast to the shrouds of the mizzen mast, which was above water. When the sea went down, I managed to reach the shore over that reef of rocks, at the end of which our ship had struck.” “And where our ship had very nearly been lost in the late tempest! You have been here nearly two years, you say. Good Heavens! how have you subsisted?” “Partly by the natural productions of the island,” said Justin, evasively. “And how have you got on with the natives?” “There are no natives except beasts, birds, reptiles and insects.” “Then the island is uninhabited?” “By man? Yes, except ourselves.” “And you have been here nearly two years. Heavens! And in all that time seen no ship from home?” “No ship from anywhere! I think this island is out of the usual course of ships.”