ung up, summoned by
a thump given with the handle of a paddle, each rower awakening the man
who was to relieve him after about an hour's spell; and Jack watched all
this in a dull, apathetic way again and again, till somehow the long
weary night sluggishly drew near its end. Over and over again an angry
feeling of resentment attacked the watcher, and when the sleeping
savages were aroused he felt disposed to kick Ned and make him wake up
and talk.

But a better feeling soon prevailed. "Poor fellow!" he said to himself;
"why shouldn't he rest and forget all his troubles for a few hours? It
is only selfishness to rouse him."

It was still dark when Ned suddenly sat up. "Morning, sir," he said;
"been to sleep?"

"I? No, Ned, I couldn't sleep."

"That's a pity. I could, like a top. It's done me a lot of good, and
I'm ready now for anything, fighting, swimming, or breakfast, specially
the last. Hot coffee, toast, fried ham, or a bit of fish. Not
particular. Don't do to be when you're at sea."

"You don't seem to trouble much about our position, Ned," said Jack
bitterly.

"Not a bit, sir. What's the good? Don't make it any better to go on
the dump. It can't last. It's like the weather--either gets better or
it gets worse. My word, what a fine thing a bit o' sleep is! Bit cool
though. Always is just before sunrise. Seen anything of the yacht,
sir?"

"Bah! Impossible! How could I?"

Ned said nothing, but glanced at the dimly-seen paddlers working away,
and at the sleeping party who were in the bottom of the canoe, and then
turned his attention astern.

"Wonder where they are taking us, sir," he said. "There must be a big
island somewhere out in this direction, and--"

He became silent so suddenly that Jack turned to him in surprise, and
saw that he was gazing fixedly over the stern of the canoe into the
black darkness, for there was no sign of the coming day.

"What are you thinking?" said Jack at last.

"That I shall have to report you to the captain, sir, for not keeping
better watch. I didn't set you to it. You volunteered."

"What do you mean, Ned?" cried Jack excitedly.

"You said, when I asked you whether you had seen anything of the yacht,
`Bah! Impossible! How could I?'"

"Well, how could I in the dark?"

"By keeping a bright look-out, sir. There's her light."

"What!" cried Jack.

"Steady, sir, steady. Don't jump out of the boat."

"But you don't mean--"

"Oh yes,