CHAPTER IV.
I try to revive my visitors--Demonstrations of amazement--A variety entertainment--Evil spirits in the mirror--"The star above my home"-- "Preliminary canter" with the boat--A joyful procession--"Good-bye to my island home"-- Nearing the main--Among the cannibals--Smoke telegraphy--A weird audience--A nation meets me--My first palace.
My state of mind was perfectly indescribable.

Here, I thought, are some poor shipwrecked creatures like myself; and I prayed to God that I might be the means of saving them.

The prospect of having at length some one to converse with filled me with unutterable joy, and I could hardly restrain myself from rushing into the water and swimming out to the catamaran, which was still several hundred yards away from me.

Would it _never_ draw near?
I thought, wild with impatience.

And then, to my horror, I saw that it was closely followed by a number of sharks, which swam round and round it expectantly.