y be one of our
boats; but if it is the captain's, just heave me overboard at once, for
he will hear all that's happened."

"Rest assured that if the captain is in yonder boat he will pity your
condition, and not call your deeds to account," said the surgeon,
anxious to soothe the mind of the dying man.

The boat got nearer and nearer, when the surgeon recognised Walter
steering, with Alice by his side, and the mate and Nub pulling. They
were soon near enough to hail him.

"Thankful to fall in with you," shouted Mr Shobbrok, who just then made
out the surgeon and Tidy though he could not distinguish the boatswain.
"Who's that with you?"

The surgeon told him.

"Where are the rest?" was the next question.

"Gone! all gone!" was the answer.

"Heave us a rope, and we will hold on under your lee till the water is
calm enough to take you on board," cried the mate.

Tidy unrove the halliards, and made several attempts to heave the end on
board the boat. At length she came in nearer, when he succeeded; and
the rope being made fast, the boat floated back to a safe distance.
Questions were now put and answered between them, but they could offer
little consolation to each other. The surgeon had to acknowledge that
they were without food and water. "If you can manage to send us a
little, we shall be thankful," he shouted out.

"We have scarcely enough for another day for ourselves," was the
alarming answer; "though we will share what we have when we get you on
board."

It was nearly noon before Mr Shobbrok thought it safe to haul up to the
raft, when the surgeon and Tidy, exerting all their strength, and with
the mate and Nub's assistance, lifted the boatswain into the boat.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

VOYAGE IN THE BOAT CONTINUED--SUFFERINGS FROM THIRST--DEATH OF THE
BOATSWAIN--REGAIN THE RAFT AND MAST AND SAIL--A BONITO CAUGHT AND
COOKED--RAIN AND WIND--THE SHORE REACHED--WATER FOUND--THE FIRST NIGHT
ON SHORE--BIRDS OF PARADISE SEEN--A REFRESHING BATH--FRUIT OBTAINED.

The mate and Nub, with their young companions, cordially welcomed the
surgeon and Tidy. "We should have been more thankful to see you, had we
food and water to offer," said the mate; "but we must pray that a shower
may be sent down on us, and that we may fall in before long with a
sword-fish or a bonito."

The weather had somewhat moderated, and casting off from the raft, they
put the boat's head towards the shore. Walter, as before, took the
he