ives, food in plenty was within their reach, and the
signs of wind were on the sea, and of rain in the sky. Let us be more
patient than they were, and place our trust-- What is that upon the water
to leeward? A piece of wood floating?"

Welch stood up and looked. "Can't make it out. Steer alongside it, miss,
if you please." And he crept forward.

Presently he became excited, and directed those in the stern how to steer
the boat close to the object without going over it. He begged them all to
be silent. He leaned over the boat side as they neared it. He clutched it
suddenly with both hands and flung it into the boat with a shout of
triumph, but sank exhausted by the effort.

It was a young turtle; and being asleep on the water, or inexperienced,
had allowed them to capture it.

This was indeed a godsend--twelve pounds of succulent meat. It was
instantly divided, and Mr. Hazel contrived, with some difficulty, to boil
a portion of it. He enjoyed it greatly; but Miss Rolleston showed a
curious and violent antipathy to it, scarcely credible under the
circumstances. Not so the sailors. They devoured it raw, what they could
get at all. Cooper could only get down a mouthful or two. He had received
his death-wound, and was manifestly sinking.

He revived, however, from time to time, and spoke cheerfully, whenever he
spoke at all. Welch informed him of every incident that took place,
however minute. Then he would nod, or utter a syllable or two.

On being told that they were passing through sea-weed, he expressed a
wish to see some of it, and when he had examined it, he said to Hazel,
"Keep up your heart, sir; you are not a hundred miles from land." He
added gently, after a pause, "But I am bound for another port."

About five in the afternoon, Welch came aft, with the tears in his eyes,
to say that Sam was just going to slip his cable, and had something to
say to them.

They went to him directly, and Hazel took his hand and exhorted him to
forgive all his enemies. "Hain't a got none," was the reply.

Hazel then, after a few words of religious exhortation and comfort, asked
him if he could do anything for him.

"Ay," said Cooper, solemnly. "Got pen and ink aboard, any of ye?"

"I have a pencil," said Helen, earnestly; then, tearfully, "Oh, dear! it
is to make his will." She opened her prayer-book, which had two blank
leaves under each cover.

The dying man saw them, and rose into that remarkable energy which
sometim