found no more eggs at
that time, and discovered nothing further of importance, and shortly
afterwards arrived back at the hut, having completed their walk round
the islet.

Irwin reported that the man Evans had called for water, and had seemed
in great pain, but had revived a little after drinking, and was now
again asleep.

The two explorers deposited their burden of eggs, and told Jake of their
hopes regarding the turtle, arranging to go down again later and watch
for the creature, knowing how important it was to their health to secure
as varied a diet as possible. But before setting out again they put a
few of the eggs into the hot ashes of the fire and baked them in their
shells. When they thought they would be sufficiently cooked, they took
them out of the ashes, and roused Evans up with the news that another
meal was ready for him.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

DEATH OF WILLIAM EVANS, AND APPEARANCE OF A PIRATE VESSEL.

It was with the utmost difficulty that they at length succeeded in
arousing the unfortunate man to a sense of his surroundings. Ever since
their landing on the sand-bank the poor fellow had been sinking with
startling rapidity. It seemed as though prior to their appearance he
had kept himself alive by a sheer effort of will, for the sole purpose
of relating his story and putting the avengers on the trail of his
former captain; and, this done, the strain was relaxed, and nature was
claiming her due. Evans at last sat up with great difficulty, passing
his hand over his forehead and gazing at his companions and around at
the new hut as though he had never seen either them or it before.

The three on-lookers felt an infinite compassion for the unfortunate
outcast; and although he had been, by his own showing, a party to the
most dreadful atrocities, yet Roger and the seamen felt that it was not
for them to judge him. They recognised that he had never been a willing
participator in the horrors he had described, and in their opinion he
had fully expiated his offences by the suffering and agony of remorse
which he had endured on the sand-bank. Roger tenderly supported the
emaciated frame in his arms, and tried to coax some food down the sick
man's throat; but he weakly pushed away the hands of the would-be
benefactor, and, the light of reason presently returning to his eye, he
said he could eat nothing, but pleaded for a draught of water. This was
at once given him, and, seeing that the man was too