vellers, and that
was lest when the sun rose higher the power of the wind should fail,
and, slight as the currents were in that part of the world, they might
be swept past the land unseen.

The dread was needless, for at the end of about a couple of hours of the
most intense anxiety the boat was blown close in to the beach, and
struck with a bump that changed her position, shaking Yussuf and his
companion from their hold.

But it was into the shallow transparent water, and, gaining his feet,
Yussuf tried to raise Lawrence on to his shoulders; but he was so stiff
and cramped that he could only hold the lad beneath his arm and wade
with him ashore.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

A WARM LAND WELCOME.

The distance was only some forty yards, and Yussuf was quite half-way
there when he was met by the professor, who came staggering down to his
aid, and between them they carried Lawrence the rest of the way, to lay
him beside Mr Burne in the full sunlight and upon the soft warm sand.

The three Greeks were already ashore selecting a spot a good hundred
yards away, and they could be seen to be stripping the clothes from
their wounded captain, and then one of them appeared to be binding a
cloth round his leg, showing where Yussuf's bullet had taken effect.

By way of precaution Yussuf's first act was to take out his pistol, and
swing it about to get rid of all the water possible before uncharging
it, and laying it with its cartridges in the sun to dry, in the hope
that some of them might prove to be uninjured, the water not having been
able to penetrate to the powder, though it was extremely doubtful.

His next act was to take out his pipe from a pocket in his loose robe,
and place that with his bag of tobacco and little tinder-box and matches
also in the sun, which was rapidly gaining power, all of which being
done he proceeded coolly enough to slip off his garments, to wring them
and spread them upon the glowing sand.

Meanwhile the professor was dividing himself between Lawrence and the
lawyer, then lying in the warm sunshine, whose influence rapidly made
itself felt, and seemed to carry strength as well as a pleasant glow.

"Well, Lawrence," said the professor anxiously, "how do you feel?"

"Not quite so cold," was the reply, "but very stiff and hungry."

"Hah!" ejaculated the professor, "then you are not very bad. Can you
follow Yussuf's example?"

Lawrence hesitated.

"Take my advice, my lad. Take off and wring y