houts and sharp orders could be heard, and in a
few minutes the two parties encountered.

"Have you found him?" cried the doctor, for he had known for some
moments that he was wrong.

"Found him!" came back in the voice of Sir John, full of agony. "Is not
Jack with you?"

The doctor's answer was a groan before he announced what had happened.

A few minutes' conversation followed between Sir John and the mate,
before the former said sharply, in a tone which cut the doctor to the
heart--

"Can you give me no idea where you missed them first?"

"Not the slightest," said the doctor bitterly. "We are completely
lost."

There was silence for a few moments before Sir John spoke again.

"Go on down to the mouth of the gully," he said sharply, "and make the
best of your way on board."

"What are you going to do?" said the doctor.

"Stop here till daylight, and then continue the search. Better make a
fire, my lads."

"Yes," cried the mate. "It may guide them to us."

"I must stay," said the doctor.

"I do not want you," said Sir John coldly, "and you are too tired to be
of any use."

"I suppose so," said the doctor bitterly, "but I must stay all the
same."

"Then back with you, my men," said Sir John.

"Keep on downward near the stream, and you must come upon the boat."

There was a dead silence.

"Well," said the mate sharply, "why don't you go?"

"Dunno 'bout the others," said Lenny softly. "I'm ready to make a
start, but I can't. It's my legs won't go."

"That's about it with me," said another of the men; and the result was
that the mate told them to sit by the fire that was made, and rest for
an hour before starting back. But when the hour had elapsed the poor
fellows were plunged in a stupor-like sleep from which they could not be
aroused.

CHAPTER THIRTY.

THE REVERSE OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

"The worst headache I ever had," said Jack Meadows to himself, as he lay
with his eyes close shut, and in terrible pain; and then, with his brow
throbbing, and a miserable sensation of sickness making his head
confused, he began thinking, as a lad who has been brought in contact a
good deal with a medical man would think, of the causes of his ailment,
and what he had eaten that so disagreed with him, while he mentally
resolved that, however good it was, he would never be tempted into
tasting it again.

He might have added--till next time, but he did not. For just then in
his weariness, pain, and