new
friends that Bill might be hungry, and the interpreter said to him, "You
want manger," pointing to Bill's mouth.

Bill understood him. "Yes, indeed I do; I am ready for anything you can
give me," he said.

The fire was lighted, while a pot was put to boil on it, and, greatly to
Bill's satisfaction, in a few minutes one of the men, who acted as cook,
poured the contents into a huge basin which was placed on the deck, and
smaller basins and wooden spoons were handed up from below.

One man remaining at the helm, the remainder sat down and ladled the
soup into the smaller basins.

Bill eagerly held out his.

The mess, which consisted of fowl and pork and a variety of vegetables,
smelt very tempting, and as soon as it was cool enough, Bill devoured it
with a good appetite.

His friends asked him by signs if he would have any more.

"Thank you," he answered, holding out his basin. "A spoonful or two;
but we must not forget Jack Peek. When he awakes, he will be glad of
some;" and he pointed into the cabin.

The Frenchmen understood him, and made signs that they would keep some
for his friend, one of them patting him on the back and calling him "Bon
garcon."

Bill, after remaining some time on deck, again felt sleepy, and his head
began to nod.

The Frenchmen, seeing this, told him to go below. He gladly followed
their advice, and descending into the cabin, lay down, and was once more
fast asleep.

The next time he awoke he found that the vessel was at anchor. He got
up, and looked into Jack's berth. Jack at that moment turned round, and
opening his eyes, saw his shipmate.

"Why, Bill, is it you!" he exclaimed. "I am main glad to see you; but
where are we?--how did I come here? I thought that I was in the
captain's gig with Tom Nokes and Dick Harbour. What has become of them?
They were terribly hurt, poor fellows! though they managed to crawl on
board the gig."

Bill told him what he had learned from the Frenchman.

"They seem kind sort of fellows, and we have fallen into good hands," he
added; "but what they're going to do with us is more than I can tell."

Just then the captain of the fishing-vessel came below, and seeing that
Jack was awake, he called out to one of the men to bring a basin of the
soup which had been kept for him.

While he was swallowing it, a man brought him his clothes, which had
been sent forward to dry. The captain then made signs to him to dress,
as he intended takin