Hours passed so. My fishing being successful, I lighted a fire, and soon
fried a few fine mackerel; but by-and-bye the sun reached its highest
position, and the scorching became so intolerable that I was obliged to
strip and spread my clothes, and even my shirt, upon the benches, to
obtain a shelter. By that time I had lost sight of land, and could only
perceive now and then some small black points, which were the summits of
the tall pines.

As soon as my meal was finished, I don't know why, but instead of
sleeping a decent siesta of two hours, the Spanish tonic to digest a
dinner, I never awoke before sunset; and only then because I began to
feel a motion which was far from being pleasant. In fact, the waves were
beginning to rise in sharp ridges, covered with foam; the mild
land-breeze had changed into a cool sharp westerly wind.

A fair wind, however, was a comfort, and as I put on my clothes, I began
to think that by making a proper use of the helm and standing upright in
the boat, my body would serve as a small sail, when "He, he, hoe!"
shouted twenty voices, on the larboard side of me. I started with
astonishment, as may be imagined, and turning round, perceived, fifty
yards from me, a large boat driving before the waves, impelled on by ten
oars. It was filled with men, casks, and kegs, and one at the helm was
making signals, apparently inviting me to stop. A few minutes after, we
were close to each other; and I daresay our astonishment was
mutual,--theirs to see me alone and without oars; mine, to behold such a
wretched spectacle. They were evidently the crew of a wrecked vessel,
and must have undergone frightful privations and fatigues, so emaciated
was their appearance.