"God Almighty bless you for this, noble friend, whoever you are! But how and when did you get here? Who are you? Did you not see my signal on the rock yesterday--?"
"One question at a time, mess-mate," said the other, laughingly. "I'm Captain Corbet, of the ship _Falcon_, bound from Sydney to London, and these are some of my men. We saw this light last night about midnight, right on our weather-bow, and came up to see what it was. We found shoal water, and kept off till morning. There's the _Falcon_, Sir."
The Captain waved his hand proudly to where a large, handsome ship lay, about seven miles away to the south.
"On your bow? Did you see the fire _ahead_ of you?" asked Brandon, who now began to comprehend the situation.
"Then you didn't pass me toward the north yesterday?"
"No; never was near this place before this morning."
"It must have been some other ship, then," said Brandon, musingly.
"But how did you get here, and how long have you been here?"
Brandon had long since decided on the part he was to play. His story was all ready.
"My name is Edward Wheeler. I came out supercargo in the brig _Argo_, with a cargo of hogshead staves and box shooks from London to Manilla. On the 16th of September last we encountered a tremendous storm and struck on this sand-bank. It is not down on any of the charts. The vessel stuck hard and fast, and the sea made a clean breach over us. The captain and crew put out the boat, and tried to get away, but were swamped and drowned. I staid by the wreck till morning. The vessel stood the storm well, for she had a solid cargo, was strongly built, and the sand formed rapidly all about her. The storm lasted for several days, and by the end of that time a shoal had formed. Several storms have occurred since, and have heaped the sand all over her. I have lived here ever since in great misery. Yesterday a vessel passed, and I put up a signal on the rock over there, which she did not notice. In despair I set fire to the brig, which was loaded with wood and burned easily. I watched till morning, and then fell asleep. You found me so. That's all I have to say."
On hearing this story nothing could exceed the kindness and sympathy of these honest-hearted seamen. The Captain insisted on his taking another drink, apologized for having to carry him back to England, and finally hurried him off to the boat. Before two hours Brandon stood on the deck of the _Falcon_.