board, and
afterwards returned to his prisoner. For three days the delirium
continued. Stephen kept the bandages round his head constantly moistened
with water, and gave him melon juice to drink. The third night the ravings
sank to a whisper, and presently became silent, and Stephen thought that
all would soon be over. However, the man's breathing became quiet and
regular, and in the morning he opened his eyes with consciousness in them.

"You here still!" he murmured, as Stephen bent over him.

"Yes, Jacopo; villain as you are, I could not leave you to die."

"How long have I been here?" the man murmured after a long pause.

"It is four days since you attacked me. Now that you are sensible I shall
set sail, but I will first carry you to the side of the stream. Now that
you have got through the fever you will recover. I have left at the tent
one of the muskets and a store of ammunition, so that you will be able to
shoot pigs; and there is, as you know, an abundance of melons,
bread-fruit, and guavas, and I daresay you will discover other things ere
long. I trust that in the time that is before you, you will repent of your
sins, and try and make your peace with God. I have buried the body of the
man you murdered."

With some difficulty Stephen got Jacopo on to his back, carried him to the
stream, and laid him down at its edge in the shade of the trees; then he
placed within reach of him a number of melons, bread-fruit, and some
biscuits. He had long since taken the rope off his ankles.

"I do not understand why you have done all this for me. I would have
killed you if I could; you have treated me as if I were your brother. I
know that it is of no use my asking you to take me with you, but will you
do me one last favour?"

"Certainly, if it is in my power, Jacopo."

"Will you bring the musket and ammunition down here? I could not go near
there again."

Stephen nodded. "I will get them for you," he said, and at once started
for the tent. He first pulled this and the storetent down, rolled them
together, and lowered them to the side of the pool, climbed out and cut
the fastening of the block, and let it and the rope fall beside them. He
then threw over the case of swords which he had not thought worth taking
away, and then getting the gun and ammunition, he returned to Jacopo.

"There they are," he said. "Here are three hundred rounds of ammunition;
by the side of the pool under the cliff you will find the two te