CHAPTER 16

A mystery to be cleared up—The stranger’s first words—Twelve years on the islet—Avowal which escapes him—The disappearance —Cyrus Harding's confidence—Construction of a mill—The first bread—An act of devotion—Honest hands. Yes! the unfortunate man had wept! Some recollection doubtless had flashed across his brain, and to use Cyrus Harding’s expression, by those tears he was once more a man. The colonists left him for some time on the plateau, and withdrew themselves to a short distance, so that he mi…