SEEKING FOOD--DISAPPOINTED--SHAPING A BOW--REDUCED TO EXTREMITY--POOR
NEP IN DISGRACE--FEVER--HOW DICK FARED--THE CROSSBOW BOLT--A
CURING-HOUSE--NEPTUNE'S APPEAL FOR HELP--DICK TURNS NURSE--ALL BUT
LOST--A CHANGE OF QUARTERS--LORD REGINALD'S DELIRIUM--FINDING JUICY
FRUIT--THE RECOGNITION.
Lord Reginald awoke with aching head and confused brain. For some time
he lay unable to collect his scattered thoughts. At length he
remembered how he had been engaged on the previous evening. He saw the
bow he was trying to form, by his side, and Neptune lying down at his
feet, keeping watch. As soon as the dog observed that his master was
awake, he got up and licked his hands and face, trying to arouse him.
"I see you want food; so do I," said Lord Reginald, sitting up. "When I
have finished the bow we shall have plenty. In the mean time, we must
get a supply of those eggs we found the other day." He tried, as he
spoke, to rise. With some exertion he got on his feet, but felt
scarcely able to walk. Taking his stick, however, he managed to totter
out of the cave. The fresh air of the early morning somewhat revived
him, and, followed by Neptune, he made his way towards the curious mound
in which he had found the eggs. He felt very giddy, and could scarcely
drag his legs along. The necessity of obtaining food, however,
compelled him to proceed. Nep kept by his side, looking up into his
face, and wondering why he didn't move faster. He had great difficulty
in climbing to the top of the mound, and nearly sank down in the
attempt. At length he succeeded, when Nep ran forward and began
scratching away as he had done before. Lord Reginald, sinking to the
ground, watched him. "It appears to me as if some one has visited the
place since I was last here," he thought.
Nep continued scratching away, but no eggs appeared. As Nep at length
enlarged the hole, three eggs were disclosed to sight. Lord Reginald
broke one of them, and cast it from him with disgust, for it contained a
nearly formed bird. Nep, not being so particular as his master,
supposing it was intended for him, without ceremony at once gobbled it
up. The second and the third egg were in the same condition. Nep took
them also as his share, and afterwards went on scratching away,
apparently hoping to find more. Lord Reginald was too weak to help him.
"That fellow Hargrave has been here, and carried off all the sound eggs,
leaving only these few for the sake of tantalising me," he exclaimed in
a bitter tone.
After Neptune had scratched over the whole top of the mound, Lord
Reginald, finding that he had no chance of obtaining any eggs from it,
made his way with tottering steps towards the fountain, at which he and
Neptune, as usual, quenched their thirst. It seemed to him, that he
could never drink enough to allay the burning fever which raged within
him. Neptune ranged about, and showed a great inclination to set off in
the direction of Richard Hargrave's hut, but Lord Reginald called him
back, jealous of the regard he paid to his rival.
"If you play me that trick, master Nep, I shall tie you up. Remember, I
will have no paying court to that fellow," he cried out.
The dog came back with his tail between his legs, looking as if he would
answer, "It will be your loss, master, but I obey you."
Greatly refreshed by the water, Lord Reginald found that he had
sufficient strength to get to the beach. He managed, not without
difficulty, to cut off from the rocks a further supply of clams, with
which he returned to his cave. He made up his fire, and dressed some of
them. Nep watched him, showing that the eggs had not sufficiently
satisfied his hunger. It was with difficulty, however, when cooked,
that, hungry as he was, Lord Reginald could eat any of the shell-fish.
Even had he been in full health and strength, such food was not
sufficient, without vegetables, either to satisfy his hunger or keep him
in health.
"There, Nep," he said, throwing the remainder to his dog, "they'll suit
you better than they do me."
Nep ate them up, and then came and lay down by his master's side.
"I must try and get this bow finished, old dog. We will then try and
procure some venison, or one of those hogs, if I cannot manage to shoot
a bird," he said.
He took up the stick he had been forming into a bow, and worked away as
he had done on the previous night, but he had blunted his knife in
cutting off the clams from the rocks, and had no means of sharpening it
effectually. He tried to do so on a flat piece of rock, and then on the
sole of his shoe, but after an attempt he found that it was very little
sharper than before. He discovered, indeed, that he was ignorant of the
way to sharpen a knife, as he was of most other arts.
At length, however, the bow was finished in a rough fashion, with a
notch at each end to hold the string, which had now to be formed. He
had first to untwist a piece of rope, then to divide it into small
strands, and to twist them up again by means of a winch, which he
manufactured like those he had seen on board. The string was much
thicker than he wished to make it, but he could not otherwise give it
sufficient strength. At last that was finished, and fitted to the bow.
He had still the arrows to make. He remembered the reeds he had seen
growing by the side of the stream, and rising with difficulty, he
dragged himself along, supported by his stick, until he reached the
spot. He selected a few of the requisite size and length, but with his
blunt knife it took him a long time even to cut one, and his strength
was almost exhausted before he had collected half a dozen. With these
he returned to the cave.
The wings of the pigeons which Nep had left supplied him with feathers,
which he bound on to one end. His difficulty was to form points. At
first he thought that he could grind down some stones into the required
shape, but after labouring away for some time, he had to give up the
attempt. He then tried some hard pieces of wood, which he cut into
shape and then hardened in the fire. Though not so heavy as he wished,
he hoped that they might answer his purpose, and enable him to shoot
straight for some distance. He had been all day without food except
such shell-fish as he had taken in the morning, and he felt little able
to draw his bow with any effect. As soon as he had finished his first
arrow he got up, and placing it in the string, shot it along the shore.
The arrow took a wavering flight, and flew some fifty yards or so,
burying itself in the sand. Nep got up to it, barking with delight,
while Lord Reginald crawled after it. On pulling it out, he found to
his excessive vexation that the head had come off, and some time was
expended in digging it out. Observing that he had not formed a
sufficiently deep notch to bind it on tightly, he remedied the error,
and was tolerably well satisfied with the result. Having finished the
other five arrows, he set out, hoping to return with an ample supply of
food. If he could but kill one deer, or a pig, or two or three birds,
he would have sufficient to feed both himself and Neptune. The sun was
still hot, but in his eagerness he thought little about it, and dragged
himself along, hoping soon to see something at which to aim.
He would not have disdained even a monkey, if he could kill nothing
else. He first made his way to the spring, where he had to quench his
burning thirst. He then crawled on until he reached a tree, behind
which he stood, hoping that some animal might come by at which he might
take a steady aim. He waited and waited, however, in vain. He saw
several deer in the distance, but they bounded along far out of range of
his bow. At last he saw two hogs come grunting up, turning up the
ground with their snouts in search of roots. They approached slowly.
Trembling with eagerness, hoping that he might be able to kill one of
them, he kept the arrow in the string, ready to shoot. The hogs came on
moving from one side to the other, till they had got to within about
thirty yards of it, when, fearing that they might suddenly turn off away
from the tree, and sure that he could send his arrow to that distance,
steadying himself as well as he could, he bent his bow. The arrow flew
from the string, but though it struck the hog with a force which made
the creature squeak, it glanced off from its thick hide, and both the
animals, looking round, scampered away at a rate which made it hopeless
to attempt overtaking them. Lord Reginald, however, getting ready
another arrow, shot it, but it missed both hogs, who escaped, whisking
their tails. He followed to pick up the arrows. Neither of them was
broken. He next tried his skill at a cockatoo, but the arrow glanced
against a bough, and the bird flew away with a scream of derision,--so
poor Lord Reginald thought it. He was equally unsuccessful when aiming
at some green pigeons. He had lost five of the arrows, and was almost
in despair, when he caught sight of a monkey. He fixed the last arrow
to the string and took as he thought a steady aim, but the monkey gave a
nimble skip, and went chattering away to a distance, as if fully aware
of the evil intended him, while the bow, as it sprang back again, gave a
crack, and to Lord Reginald's dismay he found that it was broken. He
dashed it down to the ground.
"Unfortunate being that I am!" he exclaimed. "Surrounded by plenty, I
am doomed to starve." The agitation of his feelings almost overcame
him. "I must depend in future for subsistence on the shell-fish, the
_very_ taste of which I abhor."
With difficulty he staggered towards the cave; that would at all events
afford him shelter at night. On the way he stopped to drink at the
spring, and fill a large clam-shell which he had previously carried
there with water. He could scarcely, however, carry it along without
spilling the contents. He at last reached his cave. On looking around
he discovered that Neptune was not with him. "The dog has gone off to
that fellow Hargrave, for food. I'll take care that he doesn't go
again. He ought to be satisfied with what I can get," he exclaimed.
Putting down his shell he crawled towards the rocks, and cut off a few
clam-shells, sufficient for his supper. He guessed that Nep would not
require any. He then made up his fire with the few sticks he had
remaining. He was about to throw his bow, which had caused him so much
labour, on the top of it, when it occurred to him that by binding it
tightly round with string, he might make it stronger than before.
He wisely determined to do this. He had just finished eating his supper
when Nep appeared.
"You ungrateful dog!" exclaimed Lord Reginald. "You have been tempted
off by my enemy. I'll take care that you don't go again," and fastening
a piece of rope to the animal's collar, he secured it to a portion of
the wreck, which had been thrown up not far from the mouth of the cave.
Poor Nep looked very much surprised at the way he was treated, but
accustomed to obey, he lay down with his face between his paws, while
Lord Reginald retired into the cave and threw himself on the ground.
While actively engaged, he had for a time thrown off the painful
sensation caused by fever, but the terrible disease had now a firm grip
on him. His head and limbs ached, his throat burned. Though he drank
and drank again from the water which he had brought in the clam-shell,
no quantity seemed to assuage his thirst. He was unable to sleep for a
moment, tossing about, now rolling on one side, now on the other, and
often crying out in the intensity of his sufferings that death might
relieve him.
Thus the night passed by. Day came, but brought no cessation of the
fever, which rather increased than diminished. All day long he lay
racked by pain on the cold sand. A mournful howl reached his ears, and
he saw Neptune straggling to release himself from the rope which held
him. He attempted to rise and set his dog free, but his strength was
gone, and he sank back again, unable to crawl from the spot.
He thought of home, of his mother and sisters, and of his father, always
kind and indulgent to him, whom he would never see again. The
recollection of his numberless sinful acts came with fearful force into
his mind. "No hope, no hope!" he muttered, as he clenched his hands.
"What would I now give for a few weeks, or even days, to redeem the
past? That lad Hargrave, whom I tore from his home and ill treated,
whose life I took a pleasure in making miserable; he would not forgive
me, even if I asked him; and should he discover me he would exult over
my sufferings."
Such were the thoughts which passed through his brain. Often he groaned
with pain, and when at length he had exhausted every drop of water, the
fever seemed to increase, and he felt himself growing weaker and weaker.
He almost wished that he had shared the fate of Voules and the rest of
his companions, and had been drowned before he reached the shore. He
had had a few days of grace granted him, but he had made no use of them.
Instead of trying to be reconciled to his enemy, he had treated him
with haughtiness and contempt. In vain he endeavoured to pray,--
confusion of mind, brought on by fever, prevented him from collecting
his thoughts, and all sorts of fearful phantoms passed before him.
Again he was on the deck of the _Marie_, surrounded by the dead and
dying, when he saw as clearly as if they had been present, the distorted
features of the privateersmen struck down by the cutlasses of his crew,
and the reports of pistols and clash of steel sounded in his ears. Then
once more the tempest was raging, and the sounds of the seas dashing
over the ship, the wind howling amid the rigging, the sails flapping
wildly from the yards, the creaking timbers, the cries of the crew, were
again heard. He attempted to shout to issue his orders, but his voice
failed him; not a word could he utter. Sometimes he fancied that he
could hear his own voice, at others that it was Nep's loud howls which
broke the silence. Another night passed away, and a second morning
came. Only a person who had played no tricks with his constitution
could have endured what the young lord passed through.
He was fully aware at times that he was dying, that unless assistance
came he could not survive many hours. He stretched out his hand towards
the clam-shell which had contained his stock of water, but it was empty.
His tongue felt like a hot burning coal in his mouth. He closed his
eyes from very weakness. How long he had thus remained he could not
tell, when he was aware that Neptune was licking his hands and face. He
had just sense enough left to know that it was his dog, though by what
means the animal had got free he could not divine. He heard the
faithful creature moan and whine round him and lie down by his side.
The little strength he had was rapidly decreasing, and he soon lost all
consciousness.
In a _very_ different position was Richard Hargrave. With wholesome
food and abundance of employment, he retained his health and strength,
and his mind had no time to dwell on his forlorn condition. At break of
day he rose from his comfortable bed, and kneeling down, said his
prayers as he had been wont to do at his mother's knees when a child.
He then got up, and considered to what he had best first turn his hand.
Not far off from the hut was the log which he was anxious to shape into
a canoe, and on his bench in the verandah lay his crossbow, nearly
finished, only requiring a few touches to make it perfect, the most
important being the arrangement of the lock, that he might let the bolt
fly immediately he touched the spring. This done he set to work to form
some bolts. The shafts were easily manufactured, but the bolt heads
required more time. Hunting in the carpenter's chest he discovered a
ladle and a quantity of lead. He then searched about for some clay for
forming moulds. He remembered the white appearance of the bank of the
stream at a certain spot, and hastening to it, he found, greatly to his
satisfaction, that it was composed of exactly the clay suited for his
purpose. He soon returned with a sufficient supply to form a mould,
hoping to be able to make it of a proper shape with a stem to fit into
the shaft. By boring a hole into the stem he was able to secure it with
wire firmly to the wood. To give the bolt a sharp point he fixed a
large nail ground fine, in the centre of the lead, thus obtaining
sufficient weight and sharpness for his object. Although this bolt
might be blunted should it strike a bone, yet it was well calculated to
pierce the thin skin of a deer, which, from the size of the island,
should it only be wounded, he would be certain to find again by tracing
the blood stains on the grass.
Having formed half a dozen bolts in the way which has been described, he
set off on his first hunting expedition. He had not gone far, when a
herd of small deer--the only species which existed in the island--came
in sight. He had observed on former occasions that when he got to the
windward of them they invariably scampered off to a distance, and
although no hunter, suspecting the cause, he determined to try and get
near them by creeping up from an opposite direction. Hiding himself as
much as possible behind the trees and bushes, he made his way towards
the herd, making a long circuit until he got well to leeward. Then
stooping down he crawled gradually forward, stopping every now and then
when he saw their heads turned towards him, but they still continued
cropping the grass and the leaves of the bushes and lower branches of
the trees. At last he got to within thirty yards of one of the herd,
which had separated from its companions. He stood almost breathless,
eager to shoot, and yet afraid of missing. He let fly his bolt, which
entered the breast of the animal. It staggered for a moment, then
turning round, set off with the rest of the herd along the valley. He
was provoked at not having killed it at once, for he knew that if often
hunted the creatures would grow wild, and he would have great difficulty
in getting up to them. He, however, eager to secure the deer, set off
running, keeping it in sight. At first the wounded deer went almost as
fast as its companions, until it gradually slackened its speed, leaving
a long red trail, which grew thicker and thicker, to mark its course.
It was soon left behind by the rest of the herd; still it struggled on,
until at length Dick saw it stagger, then turn round and finally sink to
the ground. He hurried forward, and with a seaman's sheath-knife, which
he had found among the things in the carpenter's chest, he quickly put
an end to its sufferings.
The deer was so small that Dick, whose shoulders were pretty broad, was
able to carry home his prize. His wish was to preserve as much of it as
possible. He reflected that, as there were only a certain number of
deer on the island, were he and Lord Reginald to remain there any length
of time, the whole might be destroyed. Had he possessed salt, he would
have been able to pickle the venison, for there were plenty of tubs for
the purpose. Though he knew very well that he could obtain salt, yet
the flesh of the deer would have become uneatable long before he could
get a sufficient quantity. He had read somewhere of a mode of
preserving the flesh of animals by drying it in the sun, and he had also
seen his mother smoke bacon, so he determined to try both these ways.
The preserved meat might also be of the greatest use, should he
determine to sail away from the island in the canoe he was about to
build.
On reaching home, for such his hut was to him, he set to work to skin
and cut up the deer. He then lighted a fire, and put a shoulder and leg
on to roast, that he might at all events preserve this much, should his
experiments fail. A portion of the remainder he cut into thin strips,
which he hung up to a cross-pole, supported on two forked sticks. He
had great faith, however, in his plan for smoking venison. As there was
clay near at hand, he mixed a quantity with grass, and quickly built up
a square tower, with an entrance below and rafters across it, and a
wooden roof. As he knew that it would be necessary to have a draught to
keep up the fire, he formed tunnels under the tower.
He had now his curing-house complete. He worked very hard, as he was
aware that the flesh would very rapidly become uneatable. Having hung
up the remainder, he placed a fire inside, piled up with green wood,
which burnt slowly, producing a large amount of smoke. Not until he had
done this did he--hungry as he was--fall to on the venison. Scarcely
had he put a morsel in his mouth than he thought of Lord Reginald.
"I wonder whether he has been able to procure any food like this," he
said to himself. "If not it will go hard with him, for although
shell-fish may do very well for a short time, with nothing else to live
on they would prove very unwholesome. However, I suppose he will come
to his senses by-and-by. If he makes his appearance, I shall be glad to
offer some to him. Fancy the proud young gentleman coming, hat in hand,
and asking for a slice of venison! I wonder poor Nep doesn't show
himself, as before, to get a meal. I should have thought his instinct
would have induced him to come. Surely his master cannot be so cruel as
to keep him back, unless he has found plenty of food for him."
Such thoughts occupied Dick's mind while he ate a hearty meal, the most
abundant he had enjoyed since the shipwreck. He had just finished, and
having hung up the remainder of the roast meat, was about to add more
fuel to the fire in his curing-house, when by chance looking up the
valley, he saw Neptune scampering rapidly along towards him.
"Oh, oh! knowing old fellow! He's found out there's something to eat in
this direction," said Dick. "He shall have it, too, and willingly would
I give it to his master."
As Neptune drew near, Dick was surprised to observe a piece of rope
round his neck, and a part trailing on the ground two or three feet in
length. In a minute Nep was up to him, licking his hand. Dick was at
once struck with his woebegone, starved appearance; the very countenance
of the dog seemed changed; there was even an expression of melancholy in
his eye, which spoke as much as words could have done. Dick examined
the rope, which was a pretty thick one, such as Neptune, strong as he
might be, could not have broken. The end, he was convinced, had been
gnawed through.
"Now, if that young lord hasn't had the barbarity to tie up the dog, to
prevent its coming to me," he exclaimed. "He deserves to starve, and I
suspect he and the dog have been doing that for some days, or Nep would
not look so thin and miserable," and he returned to his larder, followed
by Nep, who ravenously bolted the pieces of meat which he gave him.
The dog, though he had had a good meal, did not seem content, but
evidently wished to convey some intelligence to his entertainer. He
first ran off in the direction of the cave, and then seeing that Dick
did not follow, came back and uttered a low bark; then away again he
went, almost immediately to return, when he seized Dick by the trousers,
evidently wishing him to accompany him, and then looked up at him in an
imploring manner, which could not be misunderstood.
"I suppose Lord Reginald is ill, or has met with some accident, and the
dog wants me to go and help him. Well, I ought to do it, there's no
doubt about that," said Dick, moving a few paces in the direction the
dog had taken. On this Nep uttered a bark indicative of his
satisfaction, coming back and licking Dick's hand, then running on
again. Dick had no longer any doubt that Nep was anxious to take him to
his master, and he set off at a rapid rate, while Nep bounded away
before him, uttering the same sort of bark as before, to hurry him on.
"The poor fellow may be dying," thought Dick, his kindly feelings
overcoming all sense of the injuries he had received. "The sooner I get
to him the better, or I may be too late to render him any help."
On this, greatly to Nep's delight, he began to run as fast as he could,
leaping over the fallen trees, allowing no impediment to stop him. He
stopped for a moment to pick some juicy fruit resembling limes, which
grew on a tree in his path, on which Nep came back and gave another pull
at his trousers, as if fearing that he was going to stop. On passing
the fountain he found a large clam-shell, which had evidently been left
there by some one. He expected every moment to find Lord Reginald
stretched on the ground, dead or dying, but Nep still kept on until he
reached the sea-shore. He then saw the dog enter the cavern. At first
he felt unwilling to follow, but Nep quickly rushed out again, and once
more seizing his trousers, pulled away until Dick showed that he
understood him. On going in he perceived in the dim light the
unfortunate young nobleman extended on the sand, in a stupor so nearly
resembling death that he started back in horror, fully believing that
his spirit had already fled.
Fearful, indeed, had been the effect of the fever. The expression of
his handsome features was changed, his countenance had assumed the hue
of death. His eyes, half closed and fixed, had lost all signs of
intelligence. His lips were parched and burning. His hair, tangled and
disordered, hung in masses over his fine brow.
Dick, on kneeling down, felt greatly relieved on discovering that he
still breathed, though unconscious of his approach. He lifted the young
nobleman's hand. The palm was dry and burning. In an instant,
forgetful of the enmity which existed between himself and the unhappy
sufferer, he bitterly regretted that he had not, when he came to his
hut, attempted to gain his good will. He remembered that once when a
child he himself had been attacked by a fever, which had brought him to
the brink of the grave; he had then received the greatest kindness from
the marchioness, who had brought delicious grapes from the hot-house,
and ices, which had, his mother always told him, done much to preserve
his life.
"If he had treated me ten times worse than he has done, I ought to
endeavour to do my best to attend to his wants," said Dick.
As he thought of this, he endeavoured to raise the head of the sufferer,
who uttered a sound in so mournful and low a tone that Dick could not at
first understand him, but on bending over him, he caught the single word
"water." Dick looked eagerly round, the shell was empty. He then
bethought him of the fruit he had picked, and cutting one of them in
two, he allowed a few drops of juice to trickle into Lord Reginald's
mouth. This had an almost instantaneous effect. He squeezed out a
larger quantity; some minutes more elapsed, when at length Lord Reginald
became conscious of the relief, and eagerly swallowed the refreshing
juice. Still Dick saw that his chance of recovery, while he remained in
the cave, was very small, and after reflecting awhile he came to the
conclusion that he ought, if possible, to remove him to his own hut.
This would be no easy task, but Dick's arms were strong, and once having
made up his mind, he lost no time in carrying out his intention.
Nep stood by, anxiously watching him, apparently perfectly satisfied
with what he was doing. Lifting the young nobleman up as if he were a
child, he carried him out of the cave, and made his way towards the
fountain, every moment expecting to see his hapless burden breathe his
last. The fountain, however, was reached; then, placing him on the
grass, he poured some of the refreshing fluid down his throat. This
seemed greatly to revive him, and he thanked Dick, sometimes addressing
him as his brother, and sometimes as "Voules."
"You are a better fellow than I took you for," he murmured. "Poor old
Toady! I thought you would have left me to shift for myself; but we
have gone through strange scenes. Didn't you die, and didn't I bury
you? but I'm glad you've come to life again, and I won't have you
laughed at behind your back."
Thus he rambled on, but soon again relapsed into unconsciousness. Dick
had to stop several times to rest himself, but as he was anxious to get
the sufferer within the shelter of his hut, he went on again the moment
he felt able to proceed. Great was his relief when at length he placed
the young lord in his cot. He was aware that he must not venture to
give him meat; indeed, the poor young man could not have swallowed it
had he made the attempt, but he at once mixed him some of the juice of
the fruit with water.
Lord Reginald had swooned from weakness, and from being carried along so
far in the open air. For many hours he lay in a state of stupor. Dick
sat by his side, continually moistening his lips with the juice of the
fruit and water, and bathing the sufferer's hands and temples, while he
anxiously watched for returning life. All night long he sat up, fanning
his brow with the feathers of some of the birds he had killed, and
keeping away the stinging insects which flew into the hut.
The next morning Lord Reginald opened his eyes and exclaimed in a dreamy
tone, "Where am I? What has happened?"
"You are well cared for, my lord," answered Dick; "but don't talk;
you'll get round the sooner if you keep quiet."
Lord Reginald's answer showed that he was still in a state of delirium.
"Thanks, Julia; thanks, mother; you have nursed me very tenderly. I'll
do as you wish, only don't let that young ruffian Hargrave come near me.
He has been the bane of my life. I wish that we had got him out of the
_Wolf_ before we sailed from home, or that a chance shot had taken his
head off. You don't know what I went through when I was wrecked on that
horrible island. He came and taunted me, and would have left me to die
in a wretched cave by myself, while he was living luxuriously on birds,
deer, and pigs that he killed."
Having thus rambled on for some time, Lord Reginald began to blame
himself, and to confess that he had allowed Dick to be unjustly treated,
and had instigated Toady Voules and others to behave ill to him.
These latter expressions greatly relieved Dick's mind, although the
abuse which Lord Reginald had showered on his head would not have made
him less attentive to his patient's wants. For hours together the
latter rambled on; sometimes he fancied himself at home, and asked for
ices and peaches and grapes from the hot-houses, turning his eyes to
Dick, and ordering him to bring them immediately.
The word "grapes" reminded Dick that he had seen a juicy fruit somewhat
resembling the grape of temperate climes, of which several of the birds
of the island appeared to be very fond. He hurried out to search for
them, leaving Nep to watch by his master's side. He was fortunate in
discovering some bunches which appeared ripe, and instantly returned
with them. Dick ate several himself, to ascertain their character, and
was satisfied that they were wholesome and at the same time nutritious,
though far less juicy than real grapes. On his return, Lord Reginald
abused him, supposing him to be one of the servants, for having been so
long away; then eagerly seizing the fruit with an expression of joy, he
endeavoured to convey it to his mouth, but such was his weakness that,
letting it drop, he asked Dick to feed him.
Dick bore all the abuse he got with the greatest patience. At length,
exhausted by the violence of the fever, Lord Reginald sank again into a
death-like stupor, in which he lay without moving the whole night and
until the next day was far advanced. Dick, as before, continued to
bathe his hands and face at intervals, and when perceiving by the
painful motion of his lips that he wanted something to drink, he raised
his head and placed to his lips a shell full of the juice of several
fruits which he had collected. Lord Reginald eagerly drank this
delicious beverage, then, opening his eyes, which Dick thought would
never again have unclosed, the young lord looked up in his face, as if
to thank him for the relief. Dick saw by the expression of wonder and
astonishment in those eyes, so lately fixed and rayless, that he knew
him, and that the delirium had passed away. Lord Reginald tried to
speak, the colour for a moment mounted to his pallid cheek as he said,
"Hargrave, I don't deserve this kindness at your hands." Then with a
deep sigh he once more relapsed into insensibility.