to go to sleep. I
felt that it was very likely I should never wake again, or if I did that
it would be only to lie down and die. Evening was coming on, I suffered
generally less at night than in the day-time, because it was cooler. I
slept on and on; I was completely exhausted. At length, I was awoke by
Lory putting his beak into my mouth; I opened my eyes. The sun had
already risen, and a fresh breeze was blowing. I dragged myself to the
mast, and hoisted the sail, and then made my way to my seat aft. I had
scarcely got there, when I saw nearly ahead, a large vessel crossing my
course. I eagerly steered towards her; I hoped and prayed that I might
be seen by those on board, and my heart beat with anxiety lest I should
not be observed. Every moment I drew nearer and nearer, but still I
knew that when she got the breeze, she would rapidly sail away from me.
In my eagerness, I tried to shout, but my voice sounded weak and hollow.
My heart bounded with joy, when I saw the ship's course brailed up, and
she hove to, showing that I was seen. I was soon alongside, but I was
too weak to do more than just lower my sail, and sink into the bottom of
the boat, just as a couple of seamen from the stranger jumped into her.
I was scarcely conscious of what else happened. When I came to myself,
I found Lory perched on my hammock looking at me, and I was told that I
was on board the _Ringdove_, and that after she had touched at a few of
the East India Islands, she was homeward bound. I was treated very
kindly till I got well, and then as I had no wish to be idle, I told the
captain I was ready to work with the crew.

"We had several passengers on board, and one of them who was a
naturalist, and had been out to these regions to collect birds and
creatures of all sorts, offered to buy Lory, but though he was ready to
give a large sum, I would not part with my friend. Lory came safely
home with me, for I took great care of him, and when we got into
northern latitudes, I kept him always out of the cold and damp.

"So, Miss Fanny, you have the history of my pet."

"Oh, how I wish you had been able to bring the other birds home," said
Fanny. "I should so like to have seen them."

"Well, Miss, I tell you it went against my heart to kill them, but when
a man is suffering from hunger, his nature seems changed, but I often
used to think afterwards, how I could have killed the pretty creatures."

"I am very much obliged to you, f