s no reply, but the poor fellow stared up at him in a
half-delirious way.

As quietly as he could manage, Murray filled the cocoanut he had
brought, raised his brother middy's head upon his arm, and held the
hard, dark-brown cup to the lad's lips.

There was no response for a few minutes, during which Murray contrived
to moisten the parched and cracking membrane as if in vain, and he was
about to try in despair to bathe the poor lad's temples when the lips
softened, there was a choking gurgling sound, a gasp or two, and then
with strange avidity the midshipman drank and drank, spilling much, but
drinking a fair proportion, and as the cup was drained asking in a
hoarse, dry voice for more.

Instead of refilling the half nut Murray tore off another banana,
hastily skinned it, and placed that in his companion's hand, watching
him eat it, gazing about him the while, and then as he found that the
lad was recovering himself, he asked him if he could speak.

"Speak! Yes," cried the lad. "It is like life."

"That's right. Cheer up!"

"Water! More water;" cried Roberts.

"Yes, soon. Eat that first;" and he gave him another of the bananas.
"Where's Titely?"

"Titely? There," said Roberts, pointing.

"No, he is not there," said Murray excitedly. "Where has he gone?"

"He was there when I fell asleep."

"Has Tom May been back?"

"No; I have not seen him. But have you found more water and more
fruit?"

"Yes; I have found a plantation and a stream or long pool. But where
can Titely be?"

"I don't know. Can Tom May have fetched him?"

"No; he would have spoken to you."

"Perhaps he did, but I was half insensible and did not hear. Oh, Frank,
old man, you've saved my miserable life!"

"Thank heaven, old fellow! If we can only avoid the slavers we may hold
out till Mr Anderson or the captain comes to our help. But I must find
Titely. Perhaps he has crawled away. There, go on eating while I
search round. Go on eating and drinking; only leave enough for Tom May
when he comes back, and for Titely when I have found him."

"You have some too," said Roberts, who was beginning to recover fast,
save that his wound gave him increasing pain.

And now began a search which grew more and more hopeless as hours glided
by. There was no trace of the injured sailor, and no sign of Tom May's
return; and at last, when the first signs of the coming brief tropical
evening began to show themselves, and with them the d