it was given
her, but ate very little. Whatever she was thinking about, she did
not speak of her trouble, but inquired after Nesta, and whether she
and Eustace had had plenty of food and felt no symptoms of chill or
fever.

"I wish father or Bob would come quick," thought the boy
helplessly; "we're no good. She is only thinking about taking care
of us all the time; and I don't know how to look after her. It
would have been better if I had been drowned instead of Aunt
Dorothy; she would have known what to do."

He was doing one of his violent pacings up and down, and every turn
backwards or forwards he had to change his course, for the tide was
running in fast. The sea fascinated him; he could not help watching
it, especially now when all sorts of bits of wreckage were
beginning to float in--lengths of rope, a life-belt or two, and
things belonging to the _Cora's_ deck. The men from the station
were watching with the sailors and hauling things in to land.

"Any bodies that went down will be carried by the under current
into the next bay," Eustace heard the beche-de-mer owner explaining
to the _Cora's_ crew.

"Well, my name's not Swaine," said an old sailor with a telescope,
"if that isn't one coming now."

There was a thrill of excitement, an immediate demand for the
telescope, as every one pressed forward.

"It will be a broken spar," said the beche-de-mer captain. "I've
been here fifteen years and there's never such a thing happened
yet."

"I'm going out in one of the boats, mate," said the old sailor
resolutely. "Who is coming with me?"

There were many volunteers at once, and the boat was launched.

Eustace remained as if frozen to the spot. He could just see the
log-like thing lying upon the water, gently tossed by the tiny
waves that were slowly, slowly bearing it to shore. It certainly
looked no bigger than a broken spar, and very much that shape as,
the boat drawn up alongside, two sailors leant over and lifted it
in.

It was all Eustace could do to make himself stay until the boat's
return, and he covered his face as the burden was gently lifted
ashore.

"It's all right, youngster," said a kindly voice at his elbow, one
of the older sailors; "he is alive--only unconscious. It's a
miracle; but there, miracles do happen, say what you will."

The news made all the difference to Eustace, and he pressed round
with the rest.

"Here," said one of the _Cora's_ crew, catching sight of him
suddenly, "