anything else. I must go out
and try and find some fresh water and food of some sort."

He got up on his feet; though he felt weak, he was able to walk. He was
about to go out, when he cast a glance at Voules. He started back with
horror, as he saw the pallid countenance before him, the glazed eyes
staring wildly, the fallen jaw.

"Can he be dead?" he exclaimed, stooping down. He could not discover
the faintest breathing. He lifted an arm, it fell lifeless on the sand.
"Voules, Voules!" he almost shrieked out; "speak but one word to me."

No answer came from those open lips, and he saw too evidently that his
companion was dead. The horrors of his situation burst upon him with
more force than ever. He was alone in that apparently desert island; no
one to consult with, no one even to speak to. He threw himself on the
sand, and for some time lay almost as motionless as the inanimate form
near him, believing that he himself would die. Then the desire to
prolong his life returned. A burning thirst oppressed him; though he
had eaten nothing since the previous day at noon, he felt but little
hunger. He was about to leave the cavern in the hopes of discovering a
spring, when he saw in the distance an object moving towards him.

At first he thought it must be some wild beast, but presently his
favourite dog, Neptune, hove in sight, and came rushing on, leaping up,
uttering loud barks of joy, placing his paws on his shoulders, and
trying to lick his face.

"Where have you come from, Nep?" he asked. "Your coat is perfectly dry,
you must have been on shore some hours." But Nep only wagged his tail,
and bounded round and round him. Lord Reginald fondly patted the dog's
head. "Thank Heaven, you have been saved, Nep. I have one trusty
companion left, and I must not lose heart."

The dog seemed to understand him, and redoubled his signs of
satisfaction. Suddenly he stopped, and looked towards the body of
Voules, then he approached it cautiously, and after examining it for a
moment he set up a loud howl, and turning round, ran crouching back to
his master, as if fully conscious of the fate of the unhappy young man.

"Yes, he's gone, in truth!" said Lord Reginald. "You and I are now
alone. We must set out to try and find a spring and some food, if they
exist on this dreadful spot; but you don't look either hungry or
thirsty. Perhaps you have found a spring. Come along, Nep; come
along!" So saying, Lord Regina