Jack Norths Treasure Hunt | Page 9

as far as he deemed prudent he would turn upon his back and thus float upon the bosom of the great deep, borne by its ceaseless tide he knew not whither.
Perhaps he was being carried further and further out to sea, or it might be he was slowly approaching the shore of the southern continent.
That was the longest, most gloomy night Jack North ever knew. He saw nor heard nothing of the steamer during the long hours of darkness and desolation.
With the first faint streak of daylight he scanned the surrounding sea with anxious, eager gaze. But whither he would look, north, south, east or west, not an object broke the monotony of the view.
He felt that he was hopelessly lost, and he wondered in his despair if his true fate would be known.
As it grew lighter he continued to watch the sea for some welcome sight, until he saw, away on his left, a dark rim on the horizon. Was it a cloud or--land?
He dared not hope it was the latter at first, but as it grew plainer he felt a thrill of joy pass through his worn-out frame.
"Land!" he cried, coming near drowning in the exuberance of his new-found discovery.
Even after he had seen land it seemed he was doomed to disappointment.
It did not appear that he had strength to reach it. Still the prospect ahead served to give power to his weary limbs and a new lease of endurance to his overworked body.
As he swam nearer he saw that great pointed peaks pierced the sky wherever he looked, while abrupt walls of rock rose from the water's edge to the height of many hundred feet.
These he realized could not be scaled by him, and as he gazed on the gray, moss-covered rocks dripping with the spray of the ocean that continually beat against their rugged sides, hopelessness again came near overpowering him.
Above the granite front of this lonely island, as he believed it to be, he could see stupendous ridges of reddish earth rise in countless numbers and always running back toward the centre, with here and there green pastures of grass, but he looked in vain for a break in the adamantine barrier which made this ocean-bound realm unapproachable.
In his despair he was nearly overjoyed to suddenly see a boat, with two men in it, come around an angle of the rock-bound shore.
He shouted as loudly as he could in his exhausted state for help, and then gave up the battle, and sank.
But strong arms were near, and the boatmen, hearing his cries, rowed rapidly to his assistance and picked him up as he was going down for the last time.
When Jack recovered consciousness he found himself lying on a rude couch, with a friendly face looking into his and his hand held by the same person.
"Well, here you are," said the man. "I had about given up looking for you to come out of it. You must have had a long, hard pull against the sea."
"Where am I?" asked Jack. "Who are you?"
"You are on the island of Robinson Crusoe. As to myself, I am an American by the name of William Pearce. Before I shall ask you even your name I shall advise you to keep quiet and go to sleep if you can. You are among friends."
Jack was fain to follow this well-meant advice, and a few minutes later he was sound asleep.
It was nearly night before he awoke, and even then his friend would not allow him to leave his couch.
"Here is a dish of goat's milk and I will soon have some warm oat porridge."
Jack felt stronger when he had partaken of the simple food offered him, but he was still too weak to move about very much, and in less than five minutes he was again asleep.
He did not awake until the following morning this time, when he found himself in pretty good condition.
His host being absent at the time, he had an opportunity to examine his surroundings. He found himself in a small hut built of the straw of wild oats, interwoven with long, slender sticks, while the roof was treated in the same way. Only a few rather primitive utensils of cooking and living were to be seen, and he was wondering what sort of a hermit he had fallen in with when the man entered.
He was past middle life, with a sunburned, bearded and honest countenance.
Upon seeing that Jack had awakened, his looks instantly brightened and he spoke cheerily:
"Glad to see you looking so well. You will be all right in a day or two."
"Is it possible that I am on the island where Robinson Crusoe spent his lonely years?"
"It is so."
"I can hardly believe it."
"Nevertheless it is a fact."
"If I ever get away from it I