Part 91 (1/2)

As quietly as he could manage, Murray filled the cocoanut he had brought, raised his brother middy's head upon his arm, and held the hard, dark-brown cup to the lad's lips.

There was no response for a few minutes, during which Murray contrived to moisten the parched and cracking membrane as if in vain, and he was about to try in despair to bathe the poor lad's temples when the lips softened, there was a choking gurgling sound, a gasp or two, and then with strange avidity the mids.h.i.+pman drank and drank, spilling much, but drinking a fair proportion, and as the cup was drained asking in a hoa.r.s.e, dry voice for more.

Instead of refilling the half nut Murray tore off another banana, hastily skinned it, and placed that in his companion's hand, watching him eat it, gazing about him the while, and then as he found that the lad was recovering himself, he asked him if he could speak.

”Speak! Yes,” cried the lad. ”It is like life.”

”That's right. Cheer up!”

”Water! More water;” cried Roberts.

”Yes, soon. Eat that first;” and he gave him another of the bananas.

”Where's t.i.tely?”

”t.i.tely? There,” said Roberts, pointing.

”No, he is not there,” said Murray excitedly. ”Where has he gone?”

”He was there when I fell asleep.”

”Has Tom May been back?”

”No; I have not seen him. But have you found more water and more fruit?”

”Yes; I have found a plantation and a stream or long pool. But where can t.i.tely be?”

”I don't know. Can Tom May have fetched him?”

”No; he would have spoken to you.”

”Perhaps he did, but I was half insensible and did not hear. Oh, Frank, old man, you've saved my miserable life!”

”Thank heaven, old fellow! If we can only avoid the slavers we may hold out till Mr Anderson or the captain comes to our help. But I must find t.i.tely. Perhaps he has crawled away. There, go on eating while I search round. Go on eating and drinking; only leave enough for Tom May when he comes back, and for t.i.tely when I have found him.”

”You have some too,” said Roberts, who was beginning to recover fast, save that his wound gave him increasing pain.

And now began a search which grew more and more hopeless as hours glided by. There was no trace of the injured sailor, and no sign of Tom May's return; and at last, when the first signs of the coming brief tropical evening began to show themselves, and with them the desire for more water and fruit, Murray made up his mind to guide his companion to the negro's hut, after leaving by way of refreshment all the fruit and water that was left, trusting to the fact that upon finding the refreshments Tom May might go further and trace the way they had gone by means of the blazings and other signs he had left upon the canes and trees.

It took some making up of the boy's mind before he could decide to leave the place where they had hidden themselves for so long; but he felt himself bound to try hard to place his wounded comrade in safety, and where he could supply him amply with food and water; and at last, hesitating no longer, he induced his companion to make an effort to rise, and they started off together, after a final look round, for the idea had forced itself upon Murray that if they did not go at once they would not reach their haven of rest and refreshment before it grew dark.

As it was the task proved to be anxious enough before Murray succeeded in getting his companion within the hut, where he sank down in weariness and pain, but glad enough to drink heartily from a fresh nut cup of the sweet, rather peculiarly coloured water, after which he dropped into a complete state of insensibility, with a half-eaten banana grasped in his hand, while Murray eagerly seized his opportunity to follow his brother middy's example, drinking with avidity, and for his part eating almost ravenously to master the weakness and hunger from which he suffered.

Satisfied with this, he set himself to watch and think about the two men who were sharing their troubles.

”Tom must have come upon poor t.i.tely somewhere, wandering from our hiding-place,” he thought, ”and taken him back after I had gone with d.i.c.k, and it is madness to go back to him. I couldn't do it in the darkness, any more than he could track me out; and yet I don't know--I ought to try and find him. Perhaps, poor fellow, he has found no food, and may be nearly starved. I think I could find him, even if it is dark. I ought to know the way to him after going over the ground twice.

I ought to, and I will--after I've had about an hour's rest. I must have that, and then I'll start.”

The mids.h.i.+pman sat and thought of the scene when they crouched together, expecting moment by moment to be discovered.