and lowering. The wind came in fitful gusts; now from the
southward, now blowing from the land.

I at length proposed returning.

"That would be a harder matter than standing on," answered Dick. "Maybe
we shall come in sight of a harbour, and if so we will stand in and take
shelter; but if not, our only course is to run on till we can double the
cape. And then, unless the wind shifts to the westward, we shall be
under the lee of the island, and make better weather of it."

Dick spoke calmly; but as I looked at his countenance I observed a
strange expression pass over it.

"Are you in pain, Dick?" I asked.

"To say the truth, I am, sir," he answered; "though I didn't like to
alarm you by telling you how I feel I should like to have some doctor's
stuff: or maybe a glass of rum would set me to rights; but as that isn't
to be got, I must grin and bear it."

As I watched Dick, he appeared to grow worse and worse, and every now
and then a groan he could not suppress escaped him. Still, he kept his
seat at the helm, steering the boat before the wind with his usual care.
I remembered the supposed poisonous fish he had spoken of, and wondered
whether he had taken any; but I did not like to suggest the thought to
him. Presently, to my horror, his hand relaxed its hold of the helm,
and he sank down in the bottom of the boat. I seized the tiller in time
to prevent the boat broaching-to, and kept her on as we had before been
steering. I could do nothing to help him, except place his head against
the side of the boat. He breathed heavily, every now and then giving a
groan. I was greatly alarmed, not knowing what I should do by myself;
while I felt much grieved at the thought of losing him. All I could do
was to sit and steer. Nothing I could offer him was likely to do him
any good; and I could only hope that his strong constitution would carry
him through the attack, whatever it was.

At length I was very nearly up to the cape, and expected to get round it
in the course of half an hour or so, when the wind fell even more
suddenly than it had risen, and the boat lay rocking on the water,
making no perceptible way. I tried to do all I could to restore Dick.
I sprinkled his face with water, and poured some cocoa-nut milk down his
throat; but it did not appear to have the slightest effect. He remained
perfectly unconscious, only giving signs of life by his heavy breathing
and his groans, which grew fainter and fainte