Jack had found the convenient shelter of an old boat on the beach, and
there he curled himself up and fell asleep.

He was awoke by feeling something touching his face, and starting up,
just distinguished in the dim light the shape of a dog, which began to
whine piteously, and licked his hands.

"What, are you lost, or run away like me?" he asked. "Have you been
treated ill, eh?"

Jack was now thoroughly awake, and crept out of his shelter on to the
soft sand, which almost gave way under his feet.

The dog continued whining and jumping on him, and seemed to want to
show him the way to some place.

"What do ye want, eh? I can't make you out," Jack said; but in the
light of the strengthening dawn which was breaking over the sea he saw
a dark mass of something at some distance on the sand, and towards this
the dog was evidently trying to guide him.

There was not a creature to be seen on the level strand, and no sound
but the gentle murmur of the tide just turning. Presently, however,
another sound made Jack pause and listen.

The dog heard it also, and grew more and more frantic in his efforts to
lead Jack on.

When he got near the dark mass, Jack found it was the figure of a man,
and that the sounds came from him, for he was groaning and crying as if
in great pain. The dog ran to him, and leaping on his prostrate
figure, and then back again to Jack, showed that the place to which he
had to bring him was reached. As plainly as a dog could speak, he was
saying, "Help my master."

Jack bent down over the man, and said--

"What's the matter? Are you hurt?"

"Yes, I've sprained my leg; and if I don't get to the quay by four
o'clock I am ruined. I'm mate of the _Galatea_. Look alive and help
me to the ship; it's all right when I'm there, for the captain is a
jolly fellow--but oh, this leg!--all along of my catching my foot in a
net. Toby here and I were coming along the beach from my old
step-mother's, over t'other side of the Monument, and I fell, and must
have twisted my foot as I fell on that big stone. Now, I say, will you
help me to limp to the quay? Doubt if I can do it, but I'll try all
the same."

The light was momentarily increasing now, and as Jack bent over the man
to take his arm and pull him into a sitting posture, he saw a sad,
pensive face turned up to him. Evidently the impression that was
mentally made was a good one, for the man said--

"Where are you off to, young un?"

"To