I suppose that after the vessel struck, the sailors, thinking that she was going down, got off at once, taking my father, who had been injured and made insensible in some way, with them as he happened to be on deck, leaving me to my chance.

You know, we were the only passengers." "Were you not frightened when you found yourself all alone like that ?" "Yes, at first, dreadfully; then I was so distressed about my father, whom I thought dead, and angry with them for deserting me, that I forgot to be frightened, and afterwards--well, I was too proud.

Besides, we must die alone, every one of us, so we may as well get accustomed to the idea." Morris shrugged his shoulders impatiently.
"You think that I need not talk so much about our mortal end.

Well, perhaps under all the circumstances, we may as well keep our thoughts on this world--while it lasts.

You have not told me, Mr.Monk, how you came to be sailing about alone this morning.