Some of the men began to suffer severely from the want of tobacco. Only those, who had originally acted in the salvage of the wreck, were in possession of this precious commodity--having freely helped themselves while in the performance of that duty. Some of them did not refuse to sell a portion of their stock; and small plugs of tobacco, weighing about a quarter of a pound, readily found purchasers at ten dollars the plug! One man, on paying his "eagle" for a pair of these plugs, was heard to remark: "Well! this is the second time I've bought this tobacco, though the price has been awfully raised since my first purchase. I know these plugs well. They've been taken out of my own chest!" The person from whom the tobacco was purchased seemed highly amused, and not a little flattered. He was proud to think the purchaser did not take him for a fool! It gradually became the conviction of all: that we should have to depend on our own vessel for getting away from the island. It was not a very agreeable prospect: since we knew that we should have to put to sea, with but little food and less water. Even from the first, it had seemed exceedingly doubtful that the captain would ever return. Some were of the opinion that he could not, even if inclined; that he knew not the position of the island, on which we had been cast away; and, consequently, could give no instructions about finding it--even should he be so fortunate as to fall in with a ship. There were many probabilities in favour of this belief; and those who entertained it did not fail to bring them forward. "If he knew where the island lay," argued they, "why was the brig run ashore upon it on a calm, clear night?" Certainly this question suggested a very discouraging answer. At the end of the fifth week, our new vessel was nearly completed; and we set industriously to the collecting of shell-fish, cocoa-nuts, and other articles of food, to serve as stores for our intended voyage. The craft we had constructed was not a very beautiful creature to look at; but I have no doubt it would have answered the purpose for which we had designed it. By good fortune, we were never called upon to make trial of its sailing qualities. Just as we were about to launch it, a ship was seen bearing down for the island! Before her anchor was dropped, a boat was seen shoving off for the shore; and, soon after, we had the pleasure of looking once more on the cheerful, honest countenance of the old Dutch skipper. He had not deserted us in our distress, as some had conjectured: and he _did_ know the situation of the island, as was proved by his bringing the ship back to it.