There were three sheets, all covered with writing--one in English, another in French, and a third in German.

It was the same message, written in these three different languages.

But at that moment they scarcely noticed this.
All that they saw was the message itself, with its mysterious meaning.
It was as follows: "To the finder of this: "Sir,--I am an Englishman, and have been carried by a series of incredible events to a land from which escape is as impossible as from the grave.

I have written this and committed it to the sea, in the hope that the ocean currents may bear it within the reach of civilized man.

Oh, unknown friend! whoever you are.