Page 496 - Child's own book

sprung up, tbe ship sailed without me. I floated during that
and the succeeding night: but the next morning a wave threw
me on a small island-
1 found fresh water and fru it; and having discovered a cave,
T lay down in it and slept many hours. I looked about for
some place of habitation, hut found none. There were, however,
a number of colls grazing together, but no traces of other ani­
mals. When evening approached, 1 took some more fru it;
and then climbed into a tree H3 a resting-place.
About midnight the sounds of trumpets and drums seemed to
pass around the island, which continued until moming; when
ng:tm it seemed to be uninhabited. On the next day L found
that the island was small, and that no other land was in sight,
I therefore gave myself up as lost. Nor were my apprehen­
sions diminished, when 1 fimnd that the shore abounded with
enormous serpents, and other sea-monsters ; but I found how­
ever that they were timid, and tbe rattling of sticks would
induce them to dive into the water.
I climlied the tree next night, and the drums and trumpets
retumed as before. But on the third day, I had the satisfaction
to perceive a body of men, who, on landings were astonished to
find me there.
Having related to them how I came thither, they told me
they were grooms of King Mill rage: that the island belonged
to the gonii, Delial: who visited it every night with drums and
trumpets : that the genii had allowed their sovereign to train
his colts upon the island ; and that they, being sent every six
months to select some, had arrived for that purpose.
The grooms cai-ried me to King Mihrage ; who allowed me
apartments in his palace ; and seemed pleased with my conver­
sation, as it gave him information of the maoners of other
countries.