Part 30 (1/2)

”It will be a broken spar,” said the beche-de-mer captain ”I've been here fifteen years and there's never such a thing happened yet”

”I' out in one of the boats,with me?”

There were many volunteers at once, and the boat was launched

Eustace re-like thing lying upon the water, gently tossed by the tiny waves that were slowly, slowly bearing it to shore It certainly looked no bigger than a broken spar, and very side, two sailors leant over and lifted it in

It was all Eustace could do to make himself stay until the boat's return, and he covered his face as the burden was gently lifted ashore

”It's all right, youngster,” said a kindly voice at his elbow, one of the older sailors; ”he is alive--only unconscious It's a miracle; but there, miracles do happen, say what you will”

The news made all the difference to Eustace, and he pressed round with the rest

”Here,” said one of the _Cora's_ crew, catching sight of him suddenly, ”make way for this laddie--it's his own brother”

In utter bewilderment Eustace felt himself forced to the centre of the crowd, and there, with arestoratives, lay Peter, with a life-belt round him, his face ashen, and his fair hair all sodden--but he was living They said he was alive, but certainly he did not look it

Eustace turned, fought his way ht to the trees where his ly; ”I a her off to sleep”

The quiet voice pulled the boy up just in time, before he had blurted out his news in all its crudeness

”Mother,” he said instead, ”let me hold Becky--I can really Peter ant you”

Mrs Orban neither started nor changed colour; she just stared at Eustace curiously, and said inquiringly,--

”Peter?”

”Yes,voice ”He is unconscious, but he ant you when he opens his eyes”

He held out his arms for Becky; and Mrs Orban rose and went as if she were drea there with the baby

It was a very long time before Peter knew that he wanted his mother Terror and the exposure in the water for so many hours had done their work, and even when the little fellow recovered consciousness he was too ill to realize anything at all

Every one was very kind to the Orbans The poor lady who had lost her husband took entire charge of Becky; other fellow-passengers offered to help with Peter, who needed nursing night and day The survivors fro each other The people of the station were very attentive and good; but the relief party from Cooktoas hailed with thankfulness, for there were of course reeable habit of prowling about in the night and peeping at their guests as they tried to sleep in the impromptu hah, and uncouth in their ways

When Eustace saw his father he felt a great burden lifted from his shoulders; his powerlessness to help his mother did not matter any more; no one could comfort her like his father Then there was Bob; he would help the whole family to keep up in his usual splendid way!

Fortunately Mr Orban and Bob had not yet left Cooktohen the news of the disaster arrived They hastened to the beche-de-e, without the least knowledge whom they would find of their own party; and after the first explanations were over, no one could speak of the cloud shadowing the joy ofTo Eustace's infinite surprise, Bob, to whom he had looked for so much, failed him utterly--he could not rouse himself, let alone other people

The survivors of the wrecked _Cora_ were carried by steamer to Cooktown, and Mr Orban took his family to the best hotel, for no plans could be ave vent to her feelings very often

”Eustace,” she said, ”wasn't it queer Aunt Dorothy saying the very day before we left she didn't feel a bit as if ere going to England? Do you rerunt He had not words for every emotion as Nesta had

”And it see about what happened to her or even how it happened If only so when no one can?” said Eustace gruffly ”I can't think why you do You only make yourself cry”