And indeed when the sailors were led to the castle, they saw that thechief tower had just been demolished by the powers of darkness, as theyretreated; but there were sitting within the halls men and women ofdignified appearance, who thanked them for the good service they had done.Then they were taken over the island, which proved to be some sixty mileslong and thirty wide, abounding with horses, cattle, sheep, deer, rabbits,and birds, but without any swine; it had also rich mines of silver andgold, but few people, although there were ruins of old towns and cities.The sailors, after being richly rewarded, were sent on board their vesseland furnished with sailing directions to their port. On reaching home,they showed to the minister of their town the pieces of gold and silverthat were given them at the island, these being of an ancient stamp,somewhat rusty yet of pure gold; and there was at once an eager desire onthe part of certain of the townsmen to go with them. Within a week anexpedition was fitted out, containing several godly ministers, who wishedto visit and discover the inhabitants of the island; but through somemishap of the seas this expedition was never heard of again.Partly for this reason and partly because none of Captain Nesbit's crewwished to return to the island, there came to be in time a feeling ofdistrust about all this rediscovery of Hy-Brasail or O-Brazile.
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