be
distinguished.

In the meantime they had been unsuccessful in obtaining any further
provisions. Owen regretted that they had not secured another piece of
canvas with which to form some sort of shelter above poor Ashurst. All
they could do was to hoist up the sail, so as to throw a shadow over his
head. Langton, who had had a long swim, felt much fatigued, and
charging Owen to call him should any change take place, he lay down to
obtain the rest he so much needed.

Owen, meanwhile, was seated by Ashurst's side. The latter was
continually speaking, though Owen thought that he occasionally rambled.

"Hartley," he said at last, "do you think that I'm dying?"

"You are evidently very ill; but I hope, if we can get you on shore,
that you may yet pull through it."

"Do you wish me to recover?" asked Ashurst.

"Of course I do," answered Owen; "and I have been praying to God that
you may."

"You do not know what you have been praying for then," murmured Ashurst.
"I have ill-treated you, and have shown in every way I could the hatred
I felt."

"Pray do not talk of that," said Owen. "I never hated you."

"You had infinitely more cause to do so than I had to hate you,"
answered Ashurst.

He was silent for a minute or more; then he exclaimed suddenly--

"Hartley, did it ever occur to you that we are relatives? My family
name was Hartley until we changed it for Ashurst. Do you know why we
changed it? Because it was asserted that the elder branch of the family
was extinct, although my father and my elder brother--who is now Lord
Arlingford--knew that such is not the case. My brother has no children,
and when I last heard from home he was very ill. In case of his death I
should succeed to the title, though as well aware as he is that I have
no just right to it. There seems to me but little prospect that either
you or I will escape, but I feel that I must unburden my mind. When I
first saw you on board and heard your name, I immediately thought that
you must belong to our family. Upon making further inquiries I was
convinced of it. I hated you, not that you had done anything to offend
me, but because my family had kept you out of your just rights. You
have returned only good for evil. But can you now forgive me for the
great wrong which I have done you?"

"Indeed I can do so most heartily," answered Owen; "but I confess that I
do not understand all you have been telling me, nor how your family can
have