shortest time he could.  On quitting his little haven, and coming out clear of all the rocks, another shout burst out of his very soul, when he saw the Neshamony, beyond all cavil, within a hundred fathoms of him, running along the shore in search of a place to land.  That shout was returned, and Mark and Bob recognised each other at the next instant.  As for the last, he just off tarpaulin, and gave three hearty cheers, while the former sank on a seat, literally unable to stand.  The sheet of the sail got away from him, nor could he be said to know what he was about, until some little time after he was in the arms of his friend, and on board the pinnace.

It was half-an-hour before Mark was master of himself again.  At length tears relieved him; nor was he ashamed to indulge in them, when he saw his old companion not only alive and well, but restored to him.  He perceived another in the boat; but as he was of a dark skin, he naturally inferred this second person was a native of some neighbouring island where Bob had been, and who had consented to come with him in this, his search after the shipwrecked mariner.  At length Bob began to converse.

“Well, Mr. Mark, the sight of you is the pleasantest prospect that has met my eyes this many a day,” exclaimed the honest fellow.  “It was with fear and trembling that I set out on the search, and little did I hope to fall in with you so early in the cruise.”

“Thank you, thank you, Bob, and God be praised for this great mercy!  You have been to some other island, I see, by your companion; but the miraculous part of all is, that you should find your way back to the Reef, since you are no navigator.”

“The Reef!  If this here mountain is the Reef, the country has greatly altered since I left it,” answered Bob.  Mark then briefly explained the great change that had actually occurred, and told his own story touching his boat and his late voyages of discovery.  Betts listened with the greatest attention, casting occasional glances upward at the immense mass that had been so suddenly lifted out of the sea, as well as turning his head to regard the smoke of the more distant volcano.

“Well, this explains our ’arthquake,” he answered, as soon as Mark was done.  “I must have been as good as a hundred and fifty leagues from this very spot at the time you mention, and we had tremblings there that would scarce let a body stand on his feet.  A ship came in two days arterwards, that must have been a hundred leagues further to the nor’ard when it happened, and her people reported that they thought heaven and ’arth was a coming together, out there in open water.”

“It has been a mighty earthquake—­must have been, to have wrought these vast changes; though I had supposed that Providence had confined a knowledge of its existence to myself.  But, you spoke of a ship, Bob—­surely we are not in the neighbourhood of vessels.”

“Sartain—­but, I may as well tell you my adventures at once, Mr. Mark; though I own I should like to land first, as it is a long story, and take a look at this island that you praise so much, and taste them reed-birds of which you give so good an account.  I’m Jarsey-born and bred, and know what the little things be.”