something. He grasped it. It was a large piece of
Spanish cork-wood. He shoved it under Jack's back, and rested his own
left arm on it. He immediately found an immense advantage from the
support it afforded. "Who sent that piece of cork-wood to my aid?" he
thought; "it did not come by chance." The assurance that he was not
deserted gave him additional confidence. Jack also gave further signs
of returning animation.

"Where am I?" he at length asked, in a tone of voice which showed that
his senses were still confused.

"In the middle of the Mediterranean; but there's a life-buoy close at
hand, and when we get hold of it we shall be all to rights," answered
Murray.

"What! is that you, Alick?" asked jack. "I remember now feeling that I
was going overboard; but how came you here? Has the ship gone down?"

"No, no; all right; she'll be here to pick us up directly, I hope."

"Then you jumped overboard to save me!" exclaimed Jack. "Just like you,
Alick; I knew you would do it."

Jack lay perfectly still all the time he was talking. It did not seem
to occur to him that he could swim as well as his companion.

"Here we are!" cried Murray; "Heaven be praised--I was afraid that I
should scarcely be able to make out the life-buoy, it is getting so
dark." He placed Jack's hand on one of the beckets, and took another
himself, and together they climbed up, and sat on the life-buoy. Murray
drew the piece of cork up alongside, observing, "I do not like to desert
the friend which has been of so much service in our utmost need, and to
kick it away without an acknowledgment."

Jack laughed. He had now completely come to his senses. "I'm very much
obliged to you, Friend Cork," said he. "I know, Murray, what you are
going to say; I am, indeed, thankful to Heaven for having thus far
preserved me, and to you too, my dear fellow. But, I say, can you make
out the ship?"

"Not a shred of her. I scarcely know in what quarter to look for her."

"Well, then, all we shall have to do is to hang on here till daylight.
The weather is warm, so we shall not come to much harm if the wind goes
down again, and I am very certain the captain will come and look for
us."

"It may be a question whether he can find us, though," said Murray.
"By-the-bye, I do not think that the buoy was fired. If we can find the
trigger we will let it off, and that will quickly show our whereabouts."

"A bright idea," answered jack. "Hurrah! I'v