r fruits,
which showed that she had probably come from a warm country, where these
fruits grew; indeed, they afterwards learned from some papers they
found, that she was the _Fair Ianthe_, and was from the Mediterranean,
homeward bound. While Harry and David were examining one of the
lockers, they felt something moving against their legs. They looked
down, and saw a fine white cat, which by her movements, and the pleased
purrs she gave when she saw that she was noticed, seemed to welcome
them.

"She must be a fairy, or the good genius of the ship," exclaimed David.
"Or, if she is a mere mortal cat, she must be very hungry, as I am sure
I am, so let us go up and breakfast on deck, and try and get the old man
to eat something."

"Do you know, I think that he would do much better down below, if we
could take off his wet things, and put him to bed," observed Harry.

To this David agreed, and, after they had eaten a little bread, for they
would not give themselves time to take more, they contrived, with
considerable exertion, to lower old Jefferies into the cabin, and to put
him into bed. This done, they lighted a fire in the cabin stove, and
made tea and boiled some eggs, and did some rashers. They wisely, also,
took off their own wet things, which they hung up to dry, while they put
on some clothes which they found in the cabin. What a hearty breakfast
they made!--and if it had not been for the thoughts of the poor lad who
had gone overboard, and the anxiety of their friends, they would have
pronounced themselves very jolly. As it was, it cannot be said that
they were very unhappy. At last they contrived to get old Jefferies to
swallow some tea, and a little substantial food, for which he seemed
much the better, and in a few minutes they had the satisfaction of
seeing him drop off into a sound sleep.

Harry and David returned to their meal, for they still felt somewhat
hungry. They soon began to nod, and at last David's head dropped on the
table.

"I shall be off too, if I don't jump on deck and look after the boat,
and see how the weather is," said Harry. He found the boat secure, but
the weather very dull and far from promising, though there was then but
little wind. He scanned the horizon. Not a sail was in sight, and
unless with a stronger breeze than then blew, none could approach for
some time to come. On examining the vessel he thought that there was no
danger of her sinking; indeed, except that sh