DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70300#0218
190
kirby’s wonderful museum.
the crew, proceeded towards the island, with a small punt
in tow. On coming as close within its range as the surf
allowed them, the former gentleman and two of the crew
took to the punt, and were almost immediately lifted upon
the very rocks of the island, at the very spot where the mi-
serable inhabitant was watching them with the most intense
anxiety. The wave which thus threw them in, receded, and
left the punt for a few minutes on the rock, during which
time they threw out a rope, which the person caught, and
almost at the same moment another wave bore off the punt
filled with water, and nearly capsized. They were then with
difficulty taken on board the pinnace, from whence signs
were made to the boy (for they had been able to discover
that he was quite a young lad) to tie the rope round his
body and trust himself to the waves. Afraid, however, or
ignorant of the meaning of their gestures, he w'ound the
rope round his hand, but in a moment hastened to take it
off, threw it away, and again mounted the cliffs.
“ Night was now fast closing in, and the sea and wind
continued unabated. The boats were reluctantly obliged to
retire, and to leave the unfortunate boy for the second night
upon the rock, without food or shelter, and with all the fear-
ful anticipations that before morning cold and hunger
would terminate his existence. As they retreated, he w’as
seen collecting in a particular spot (a kind of cavern), a
quantity of weeds, with the intention of making a bed, and
picking from the earth some wild vegetables with which the
rock abounds, and which he was observed to eat. A fog
suddenly concealed him from further observation while thus
employed.
“ Reluctant to suffer such an interval as between night
and morning to pass without making a new effort in behalf
of the boy, at eleven o’clock at night Mr. Gibbon’s whale-
boat was again manned, and attempted to get out, but could
not succeed. In the morning, long before day, she again
started with Lieuts. Bevan and Nason, of the royal navy,
kirby’s wonderful museum.
the crew, proceeded towards the island, with a small punt
in tow. On coming as close within its range as the surf
allowed them, the former gentleman and two of the crew
took to the punt, and were almost immediately lifted upon
the very rocks of the island, at the very spot where the mi-
serable inhabitant was watching them with the most intense
anxiety. The wave which thus threw them in, receded, and
left the punt for a few minutes on the rock, during which
time they threw out a rope, which the person caught, and
almost at the same moment another wave bore off the punt
filled with water, and nearly capsized. They were then with
difficulty taken on board the pinnace, from whence signs
were made to the boy (for they had been able to discover
that he was quite a young lad) to tie the rope round his
body and trust himself to the waves. Afraid, however, or
ignorant of the meaning of their gestures, he w'ound the
rope round his hand, but in a moment hastened to take it
off, threw it away, and again mounted the cliffs.
“ Night was now fast closing in, and the sea and wind
continued unabated. The boats were reluctantly obliged to
retire, and to leave the unfortunate boy for the second night
upon the rock, without food or shelter, and with all the fear-
ful anticipations that before morning cold and hunger
would terminate his existence. As they retreated, he w’as
seen collecting in a particular spot (a kind of cavern), a
quantity of weeds, with the intention of making a bed, and
picking from the earth some wild vegetables with which the
rock abounds, and which he was observed to eat. A fog
suddenly concealed him from further observation while thus
employed.
“ Reluctant to suffer such an interval as between night
and morning to pass without making a new effort in behalf
of the boy, at eleven o’clock at night Mr. Gibbon’s whale-
boat was again manned, and attempted to get out, but could
not succeed. In the morning, long before day, she again
started with Lieuts. Bevan and Nason, of the royal navy,