Shipwrecked Mariner Gets Reading Material

The shipwrecked mariner had spent a number of years on a deserted island. Then one morning he was thrilled to see a ship offshore and a smaller vessel pulling out toward him. When the boat grounded on the beach, the officer in charge handed the marooned sailor a bundle of newspapers and told him,

"With the captain's compliments. He said to read through these and let us know if you still want to be rescued."