led on him to awake, for there was land in sight not
more than four miles away. For some time the poor boy made no response
to my efforts to arouse him, and I began to think that he was dead, when
suddenly he opened his eyes and whispered:

"Land? Land? Who talks of land?"

"I do, my hearty!" I replied. "I--Walter Leigh. Wake up, old chap,
and see for yourself!"

"I--I--don't--think--I can," the poor boy gasped. "I--don't seem--to--
to--. Can you--help--me--Mr--?"

"Oh, hang the Mister!" I exclaimed. "That's done with, long ago.
Here, give me your hand, old man. That's it! Now--heave with a will.
That's right--steady, boy!--grip the coaming. There you are! Now then,
look straight ahead and tell me what you see."

The boy stared out over the boat's bows for a long minute or more, and
never shall I forget the look of exquisite rapture that gradually grew
in his glassy eyes as he stared. Then suddenly down he dropped again
into the bottom of the boat and covered his poor emaciated face with his
hands, as he gave vent to a storm of dry, choking sobs.

I stooped and patted him on the shoulder encouragingly.

"There!" I exclaimed soothingly, "that's all right, old man. Cry if
you want to; but when you've done, slip in and see if you can make your
mother and sister understand that there's land in sight, and that we
shall reach it in about two hours."

"Yes, yes, I will," whispered the boy. "It was of them I was thinking."

He got upon his hands and knees and crawled in under the deck, where he
remained about five minutes or thereabout. Then he reappeared, his eyes
wide with horror.

"Walter," he gasped, "Walter, I can't rouse them. I--I--guess they're
dead!"

"Dead!" I croaked. "Oh, no, surely not! It would be too cruel that
they should have endured so much, only to perish when all that we need
is within sight. Take the dipper--there is still a little water left--
and see if you can get them to swallow a drop or two; then, if they will
take any at all, give them a good drink--half a dipper each, but no
more, mind you. Tell them that in two hours we shall be ashore on the
fairest island God's sun ever shone upon. Go at once, old boy; a few
minutes may make all the difference between life and death. I would go
myself, but I am afraid you are too weak to stand and steer."

"No, no, I'm not," he protested. "I can steer all right. And I'd ever
so much rather that you went in there than I.