allow his portion, and it revived him so much that he sat
up without assistance. His faculties seemed to return to a certain
extent, and presently he asked for more. This was given him,
supplemented this time by a small quantity of brandy and hot water. The
spirit seemed to do him more good than anything else. The light came
back gradually to the fast-dimming eyes, and a spot of colour made its
appearance in his ashen face. He swallowed with great difficulty; but,
taking his time, he managed to eat a very fair quantity of food for a
man sick nigh unto death, and the food, together with the stimulant,
revived him so much that for a time Roger thought that with care,
constant attention, and good food they might even now save the man's
life after all. But the effect was only transient, and it was not long
before he had to lie down again; his eyes lost their fire, and he
gradually dropped back into a stupor similar to that from which he had
been aroused to take his meal.

Roger was greatly moved by the poor wretch's condition, and was very
quiet and reserved for the remainder of the day; the two sailors,
however, had seen more of the world and its vicissitudes than the lad,
and it did not affect them at all. When night fell, all retired to
their improvised couches, it being considered unnecessary to keep a
watch; for they replenished the fire so thoroughly before turning in
that it would burn until morning. And if the ships should by any chance
happen to sight the island during the night, they must inevitably see
the fire, built as it was on the highest point of the bank, and, seeing
it, would know that the castaways were alive on the island. They would
then naturally heave-to until daylight.

Day dawned, and all hands turned out, the invalid, of course, excepted.
Breakfast was cooked, and they sat down to the meal with very hearty
appetites, despite the fact that upon looking round them the horizon was
found to be bare of ships. Evans was again roused from his now constant
stupor, and managed to take a little soup and brandy; but he immediately
afterwards sank back again exhausted, and relapsed at once into his
usual state. The two seamen went away to fish from the reef running
into the sea close to where the turtle was taken, and Roger remained in
camp to look after Evans.

The men had not long been absent on the fishing excursion, and Roger was
busy in the hut, when the sick man moved, turned on his side, an