tones of
Bob's well-remembered voice; and, raising myself with difficulty, only
to sink back in utter feebleness, I caught a momentary glimpse of the
boat in the act of grounding on the beach.

In a few brief seconds more Ella and Bob were beside me, the former
raising my head upon her knee, and gazing into my face with an
expression of the fondest pity and concern, as her fingers swept the
hair gently off my forehead, wet with the clammy dew of suffering.

Bob, too, knelt at my side, uttering expressions of sympathy and
encouragement, expressed, as usual, with true nautical figurativeness of
speech. Seeing that I was conscious, however, he speedily changed his
discourse, and informed me that it was necessary I should be immediately
removed; for, though he had succeeded in decoying the whole of the
savages away in pursuit of the boat, and had led them to such a distance
as to admit of his evading them and returning in search of me, they were
still in chase, and no time must be lost in getting away from the
present spot, and returning to the cutter, or we should again be brought
into dangerous proximity with them.

Having explained thus far, therefore, he at once proceeded to raise me
in his powerful arms; and though he did so with the utmost gentleness,
the agony attending the movement was so intense that I swooned away.

When I recovered, we were afloat and under way, standing off, with
flowing sheets, for the headland I have mentioned as forming the
northern extremity of the bay.

Ella was seated on the boat's platform or deck, with my head in her lap,
and was bathing my face and neck with her pocket-handkerchief, wetted
from a pannikin of water which stood by her side, and which was supplied
from a small breaker we had brought with us.

As soon as I opened my eyes the dear girl bent over me, and asked, with
the tenderest solicitude, whether I felt any better.

"Yes, darling," I answered; "but, for the love of mercy, pray give me
some water. I am dying for want of it."

She handed the pannikin to Bob, who immediately filled it, my eyes
drinking in, in eager anticipation, every cool, sparkling drop of the
precious liquid, as it gurgled crystal-clear out of the bung-hole of the
breaker; the next moment the pannikin was drained to the bottom, and I
was craving for more. Oh, what a delicious draught was that to my
parched and burning lips and throat!

We were by this time rounding the point, and the savages h