of the regular tramp of footsteps to and fro on the planking
overhead; and for the moment I thought that I was aboard the _Tern_, and
just awaking from a sleep during which I had been haunted with an
unusually long series of peculiarly unpleasant dreams. But as I opened
my eyes and looked with somewhat languid interest upon my surroundings,
I became aware that I was in a small, plain, but fairly snug cabin, of
which I seemed to possess no previous knowledge; and at the same moment
a confused but rapidly clearing memory of what had happened came to me,
together with the knowledge that I had been rescued from the raft, and
was feeling very much better. But an attempt to move, preliminary to
turning out, revealed the disconcerting fact that I was as weak and
helpless as a new-born infant, so I was perforce obliged to remain where
I was; and in a short time I dozed off into a light sleep again, soothed
thereto by the hum of the wind, the gurgling wash of water along the
side of the ship, close to my ear, and the gentle heave and plunge of
the fabric that bore me.

From this nap I was awakened by the somewhat noisy opening of my cabin
door; and upon opening my eyes I beheld a swarthy and somewhat dirty-
looking individual bending over me. From his appearance I at once set
him down as a Frenchman; and as I gazed up into his face with mild
curiosity, this impression became confirmed by his exclaiming in
French--

"Ah, monsieur, so you have come to your senses at last, eh? Good! I
knew I could save you, although Francois declared you to be as good as
dead when he brought you aboard! And now, mon ami, what do you say; can
you eat something?"

"Thank you," replied I, in the same language; "now that you come to
mention it, I think I can."

"Good!" ejaculated the unknown: "rest tranquil for but a short time, and
I will see what that rascal cook of ours can do for you. Stay! another
dose of quinine will do you no harm, just by way of precaution, you
know, although I think I have driven the fever out of you at last.
Permit me."

And, so saying, he laid a rather grimy hand upon my forehead for a
moment, and then transferred it to my wrist, remarking--

"Good! the skin is cool and moist, the pulse normal again. Ha, ha, my
friend, you will do, you will do; henceforth the cook must be your
doctor. All you need now is plenty of good nourishing food to restore
your strength. Now, drink this, and as soon as you have swallo