EEABLE SURPRISE--SOMETHING TO READ--A REFRESHING
CHANGE--HAT-MAKING--HARDLY STRONG ENOUGH--GOING ON WITH THE CANOE--A
DESIGN ON THE PORKERS--PIG-DRIVING--COFFEE BERRIES AND SUGAR-CANES
DISCOVERED--AN EARTHQUAKE--GRAVE APPREHENSIONS--THE BURNING MOUNTAIN.

Richard Hargrave sat by Lord Reginald's cot, watching his sufferings,
with the anxiety and sorrow he would have felt for a brother and dear
friend. Not a spark of animosity remained. In his heart he fully
believed that the young lord would die, and was ready to accuse himself
of being his murderer. Only a short time during each day did he venture
to leave him, to set his traps, or shoot birds, or collect fruits, which
latter were more especially required by the sufferer. On each occasion
when he hurried back, he dreaded to find that his patient had expired
during his absence. Neptune was always left in charge, as Dick hoped
that the instinct of the dog would induce him to summon him should he be
required. He was well aware that it would be dangerous to give any
heavy food to the sufferer, and yet he dreaded, lest by taking too
little, he might die of starvation. There was, however, he hoped,
sufficient nutriment in the fruit to keep up his strength without
increasing the fever. Day after day went by, and the violence of the
complaint in no way appeared to abate, nor did the young lord recover
his reason except at long intervals, when the words he uttered showed
that he was fully aware of his own condition. His thoughts were
evidently of a gloomy character, as he was constantly uttering
expressions of self-reproach. No longer petulant or impatient, he
appeared sunk in the deepest despondency.

This change of ideas was more alarming even than his wild fits of raving
to Dick, who began to accuse himself of being the cause of much of the
young lord's conduct. He considered their difference of rank; he
recollected his own defiant looks and expressions, which had so often
aroused his rival's anger. "Had I treated him with respect, which of
course he thought his due, and avoided him as much as possible, he would
soon have forgotten a person so much beneath him in rank," exclaimed
Dick. "True, he abused his power on board the _Marie_; but how have I
behaved since we were thrown together on this island?"

At last one morning, Lord Reginald appeared to drop off into a more
quiet slumber than usual, and Dick was induced to go out in search of
game with his crossbow