That he might once, or even twice, have been the dupe of his own imagination, is probable enough; but a healthy mind does not permit a delusion to be indefinitely prolonged--it struggles with the hallucination, and eventually shakes it off; providing always the mind has a shadow, and not a reality, to deal with, and that the patient is not a monomaniac.

The dilemma was consequently reduced to this position--either Willis was mad, or Captain Littlestone was on board the _Boudeuse_.
In all other respects, Willis was perfectly sane.

He himself searched every corner of the ship, but without other result than a confirmation of his own impression that there were no officers on board other than those of the corvette; and yet, notwithstanding his own conviction in daylight, he still continued to assert the reality of his interviews with Captain Littlestone during the night.

The Italians say, _La speranza e il sogno d'an uomo svegliato_.

Was Willis also dreaming with his eyes open?
Might not the wish be father to the thought, and the thought produce the fancy?
There is only one other supposition to be hazarded--could it be possible, in spite of all his researches, that Willis did see what he maintained with so much pertinacity he had seen?
These questions are too astute to admit of answers without due consideration and reflection; therefore, with the reader's permission, we shall leave the replies over for the present.
On the 12th June a voice from the mast-head called "Land ahoy!" much to the delight of the voyagers.