"No, sir; nor can you expect any good news until after the gale is over. The vessel could not remain here during the gale - that is certain; and there is no saying what the effects of the gale may be. She may lie to, and not be far from us when the gale is over; or she may be obliged to scud before the gale, and run some hundred miles from us. Then comes the next chance. I think, by her running for the island, that she was short of water; the question is, then, whether she may not find it necessary to run for the port she is bound to, or water at some other place. A captain of a vessel is bound to do his best for the owners. At the same time I do think, that if she can with propriety come back for us she will. The question is, first, whether she can; and, secondly, whether the captain is a humane man, and will do so at his own inconvenience." "There is but poor comfort in all that," replied Mr. Seagrave. "It is useless holding out false hopes, sir," replied Ready; "but even if the vessel continues her voyage, we have much to be thankful for." "In what, Ready?" "Why, sir, no one knew whether we were in existence or not, and probably we never should have been searched for; but now we have made it known, and by the ship's name on the flag they know who we are, and, if they arrive safe in port, will not fail to communicate the intelligence to your friends. Is not that a great deal to be thankful for? We may not be taken off by this vessel, but we have every hope that another will be sent out to us." "Very true, Ready; I ought to have seen that before; but my despair and disappointment were yesterday so great, that it almost took away my reason." The gale continued during the day, and showed no symptoms of abatement, when they again retired for the night. The following day Ready was up early, as usual, and William accompanied him to the beach. "I don't think that it blows so hard as it did, Ready." "No, William, it does not; the gale is breaking, and by night, I have no doubt, will be over. It is, however, useless looking for the vessel, as she must be a long way from this. It would take her a week, perhaps, to come back to us if she was to try to do so, unless the wind should change to the northward or westward." "Ready! Ready!" exclaimed William, pointing to the south-east part of the reef; "what is that? Look! it's a boat." Ready put his telescope to his eye. "It's a canoe, William, and there are people in it." "Why, where can they have come from? See! they are among the breakers; they will be lost. Let us go towards them, Ready." They hastened along the beach to the spot nearest to where the canoe was tossing on the surf, and watched it as it approached the shore.