, had lost all signs of
intelligence. His lips were parched and burning. His hair, tangled and
disordered, hung in masses over his fine brow.

Dick, on kneeling down, felt greatly relieved on discovering that he
still breathed, though unconscious of his approach. He lifted the young
nobleman's hand. The palm was dry and burning. In an instant,
forgetful of the enmity which existed between himself and the unhappy
sufferer, he bitterly regretted that he had not, when he came to his
hut, attempted to gain his good will. He remembered that once when a
child he himself had been attacked by a fever, which had brought him to
the brink of the grave; he had then received the greatest kindness from
the marchioness, who had brought delicious grapes from the hot-house,
and ices, which had, his mother always told him, done much to preserve
his life.

"If he had treated me ten times worse than he has done, I ought to
endeavour to do my best to attend to his wants," said Dick.

As he thought of this, he endeavoured to raise the head of the sufferer,
who uttered a sound in so mournful and low a tone that Dick could not at
first understand him, but on bending over him, he caught the single word
"water." Dick looked eagerly round, the shell was empty. He then
bethought him of the fruit he had picked, and cutting one of them in
two, he allowed a few drops of juice to trickle into Lord Reginald's
mouth. This had an almost instantaneous effect. He squeezed out a
larger quantity; some minutes more elapsed, when at length Lord Reginald
became conscious of the relief, and eagerly swallowed the refreshing
juice. Still Dick saw that his chance of recovery, while he remained in
the cave, was very small, and after reflecting awhile he came to the
conclusion that he ought, if possible, to remove him to his own hut.
This would be no easy task, but Dick's arms were strong, and once having
made up his mind, he lost no time in carrying out his intention.

Nep stood by, anxiously watching him, apparently perfectly satisfied
with what he was doing. Lifting the young nobleman up as if he were a
child, he carried him out of the cave, and made his way towards the
fountain, every moment expecting to see his hapless burden breathe his
last. The fountain, however, was reached; then, placing him on the
grass, he poured some of the refreshing fluid down his throat. This
seemed greatly to revive him, and he thanked Dick, sometimes addressing
him