n for some short
time, and then turned to passages in other parts of the Book which she
thought calculated to bring comfort to one in sickness and distress.

Jack at length could restrain himself no longer.

"Elizabeth," he exclaimed, "Elizabeth de Mertens! do you not know me?"

She flew to his side, and trembling took his hand which he stretched out
towards her.

"Who are you?" she exclaimed. "Yes, yes, I know you, I know your voice!
Jack Deane you are--yes, you must be! But oh, how did you come here?
How do you know me, and that name by which you call me? I remember it
well. It was my own name, though I had well-nigh forgotten it. Have
you come to take me away from this dreadful place? and oh, from that
dreadful man too?"

"Yes, indeed I am Jack Deane--and often have I thought of you,
Elizabeth!" he answered; "and it was in consequence of the ring you gave
me that I discovered your name. But sit down, and I will tell you by
degrees what has occurred. If I was to give the history all at once, I
have so many things to say that I should bewilder you. But I also want
to learn about you--how you came here, and your adventures; for it seems
strange that you have been brought out to this lonely island, to live
among pirates and outlaws!"

"I am afraid you give them but their true name," answered Elizabeth;
"but let me hear about yourself, and those from whom you learnt my
name."

Jack could not speak without difficulty, but he managed, however, to
give Elizabeth a brief account of himself, entering more particularly
into the way in which he had discovered her parents. They were
interrupted by the return of Dame Pearson and her black attendant.

"Hush!" said Elizabeth; "say nothing now: I will tell my mother when the
girl is not present. I fear she is not to be trusted."

The discovery Jack had made, instead of increasing his fever, had a
beneficial effect, so it seemed, as it restored his spirits in a way
that nothing else would have done. All his thoughts were now occupied
in devising a scheme for carrying off Elizabeth from the island.

So completely had the fever deprived Jack of strength, that for several
days he was unable to rise from his couch, although, thanks to the kind
and constant attention he received, he was gradually recovering. He was
especially anxious all this time to hear from his companions; but Dame
Pearson could give him no information, nor could Elizabeth, although
they believed