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Rh over their heads. Relief, however, was now near at hand. On the 21st of January, 1823, one of the men named Dominick Spesinick taking a walk towards a high point of land about three quarters of a mile from their hut, came suddenly upon the welcome sight of a vessel coming round the point. He immediately came running towards his comrades, apparently in great agitation, and for some time could do nothing but gesticulate. Having so far recovered as to be able to tell his story, it was determined that John Soper, another of their party, should go with him, taking a direction across the island, so that they might, if possible, intercept the vessel; and they were supplied with a tinderbox in order to make a fire to attract the notice of the crew. The hours passed slowly during their absence, and when night approached, and they did not return, numerous conjectures were started to account for their stay. Some suggested that having seen the vessel, they had selfishly gone aboard, and left those remaining to their fate. Others more charitably concluded that being worn out, in pursuing what was doubtless only a phantom of the old man's brain, had been unable to return from fatigue, but that morning would bring them back with bitter disappointment. Morning at length came, after a tedious night. Some had not closed their eyes, whilst the others who had caught a few minutes' sleep, had been disturbed by frightful dreams, and awakened only to dire forebodings, that they were doomed to drag out their existence without the least chance of deliverance.

Meanwhile their two companions who had gone in search of the vessel, had indeed been fortunate enough