`Emu,'" I answered, thinking it was as well to acknowledge this
much.

"The `Emu!'" he exclaimed. "Why, who are you? Let me let me look at
you. Don't you know me, Dick?" and he grasped my hand. I looked at him
hard.

"Why, if I didn't think you were at the bottom of the sea, I should have
declared that you were Tom Trivett."

"And so I am," he said, "though I'm not at the bottom of the sea, and
right glad I am to find you, Dick, out of that dreadful ship. Come
along, we mustn't stand talking here; we were sent to bring you off,
and, judging by your looks, the sooner you're on board the better."

"Yes, indeed," I answered, "for I find it a hard matter to speak from
the dryness in my throat; I haven't tasted water for a couple of days,
and if you had not come I don't suppose I should have held out much
longer, with the hot sun shining down on my head."

"Well, I am glad," cried Tom, as he, with the aid of another hand, who
was the third mate of the ship, helped me into the boat. She
immediately shoved off, and pulled towards the ship.

"Who would have thought of finding you, Dick, all alone by yourself out
on yonder rock?" said Tom, who was pulling stroke oar. "However,
wonders never end. There's another old shipmate of yours on board, whom
you'll be glad to see, I have a notion; and not a little surprised
either, if you thought that he was left to perish on the Falkland
Islands."

"What! Do you mean Mark Riddle?" I asked.

"Yes, Mark himself," he said. "He didn't die, or he wouldn't be on
board the `Falcon.' We found him about ten days after. He had been
pretty well worn out, but still with life enough in him to crawl down to
the beach when we put in for water."

"I am glad, I am glad!" I said, though I could say little more, and was
unable to ask Tom how he had escaped.

The mate put questions to me which I was unable to answer; indeed I was
almost fainting before I was lifted up the side of the "Falcon." One of
the first persons I set eyes on was Mark Riddle. He was much grown and
bronzed. Had I not been aware that he was on board, I should not at
first have known him; nor did he guess who I was till Tom told him, when
he sprang to my side, and warmly grasped my hand. He forbore asking
questions, as he saw that I was not in a state to reply. The first
thing Tom did was to bring me a mug of water, which I eagerly drank.
After that the captain ordered that I should be carried to a spare be