ng was within the lagoon. As they pulled up to it and
looked over the sides of the boat, so pure and transparent was the water
that they could see down to the very bottom, and beautiful indeed was
the sight they beheld. Masses of varied coloured coral, sea-plants of
every conceivable tint and of the brightest shells--some with their
living inhabitants, others deserted--of the most lovely forms, while
fish of curious shapes and beautiful colours glided noiselessly in and
out amid the rocks and groves of this submarine fairy land.

Charley, however, was thinking of Jack, and was eager to land to
ascertain whether he was really an inhabitant of the islet, or whether
they had yet further to continue their search. The whole party was soon
on shore, and hurrying up towards the spot where they expected to find
the hut.

"Jack Askew! Jack Askew! are you there?" cried Charley, thinking that
this was the best way to bring out the inhabitant of the hut should
there be one, but there was no reply. "Alas!" he said to himself, "I am
afraid that we have come too late to save him. Dear Margery, how bitter
will be her disappointment; how it will grieve the hearts of the good
old captain and Mrs Askew to hear it!"

And Charley walked on in silence towards the hut, which just then
appeared between the cocoa-nut trees.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

JACK ASKEW FOUND--HIS ADVENTURES.

Was the hut deserted, or was the person whom Peter had seen waving his
hands as the canoe drove past still its occupant? The hut was rudely
built, partly of pieces of coral but chiefly of drift-wood, and thatched
with the broad leaves of the pandanus, a species of palm growing on the
island. Charley entered:--yes, it was inhabited. On a rough bed of
dried leaves lay a young man; his cheeks were pale and hollow, his eyes
sunken, but he breathed. "Water, water," he muttered; "oh mercy,
water!"

Happily, Charley had brought a flask with some weak brandy-and-water; he
poured a few drops down the sufferer's throat, while the men dispersed
to try to find water on the island. Charley repeated his remedy, and by
the time the water was found the sufferer was able to sit up long enough
to take a refreshing draught of it. He looked around him with a
surprised and bewildered air. "Who are you all?" he asked at length, in
a low voice. "Where do you come from? I thought that I was left alone
to die."

"Friends and countrymen; but don't speak," answered Charl