S COMPANIONS
ON THE WRECK--WEATHER MODERATES--LAND SEEN--THEY BUILD A RAFT--VOYAGE TO
THE SHORE--SEE A SAVAGE ON IT--TURNS OUT TO BE PAT CASEY--NIGHT ON
SHORE.

When Tom Rogers at length awoke, he found the captain, Doctor Locock
(the surgeon), and the first mate seated at dinner.

"Well, young gentlemen, do you find yourselves well enough to join us?"
asked the former.

"Yes, sir," said Tom, slipping into his clothes, which he found
perfectly dried by his side. He aroused his companions, and they were
all three soon seated at table, where plates had been laid for them.
They were thankful to hear from the doctor that Tim, though still in his
hammock, was in a fair way of recovery, and would be on deck in a day or
two.

They now gave a fuller account of their adventures than they had done on
the previous night. The possible loss of the _Dragon_ was discussed,
and from the captain and mate's observations the midshipmen's hopes were
somewhat raised that she might have escaped shipwreck. Their opinion
was that, as her machinery was damaged, she would have run to Hong-kong,
the nearest place at which it could be repaired; and that it would take
several weeks before she could get back to the Bonins to look for them.
That their captain would return they felt sure, unless he was convinced
that they were lost.

"At all events, as we are about to fish off there, we will take a look
round the neighbouring islands on the chance of discovering the wreck,
and rescuing any of her people who may have escaped," said the master.
"If we fail in that, we may fall in with a British man-of-war, and you
shall be put on board. If not, we will land you at Yokohama or
Kagoshima, from whence you can without difficulty get to Hong-kong."

Tom, as spokesman, thanked the captain for his kindness, adding, "I feel
sure that the British consul at any place at which you may land us will
reimburse you for the expense to which you may be put on our account."

"We won't talk about that, my young friend," answered the American
captain. "We will set off the loss of your boat against that; and I am
only too happy to have saved your lives, and to have rendered any
service in my power to British officers in distress, for I tell you it
is my belief that you would all have starved before you got to Guam, or
any other island at which you could have landed in the Ladrones."

"I guess that they don't value midshipmen at a long figure in your
service,"