raging thirst set all ideas of prudence at naught, and sent them more frequently than ever to the rapidly diminishing water. But a veil must be drawn over the rest. The boat drifted on, each day bringing greater misery to its occupants, until horrors were perpetrated which Arthur could only hint at. When the boat struck the land early one morning, Arthur Treleaven was the only one living of the six men who had left the side of the Annie Lee. Awaking from an unquiet sleep, Arthur felt that the boat was gently grating against a coral reef which fringed a small island. He managed to get on shore, and soon found the water he was dying for, and a few sea-birds' eggs, which served him for food. On this island he lived a kind of Robinson Crusoe life, subsisting on eggs and such fruit as he could find, until, as he was abandoning all hope of rescue, his exile was put an end to by a vessel which passed the island and sent a boat ashore to procure water. From this vessel he was transferred to the French brig Marie, bound to Swansea, which, as already related, suffered shipwreck upon the coast of his own parish. As to the future and to his relation to Jenifer, it was too soon to say anything about that. For the present he was as weak as any child, and only by careful nursing could he ever hope to be the strong man he was before he left home. VOL. II. T CHAPTER XXI. "I WILL." O true and tried, so well and long, In Memoriam. THE buds were bursting forth on the trees, and the birds were uttering their spring love-song before Arthur's strength came back again. For a considerable time after he regained consciousness the state of Jenifer's feelings towards him was unknown, but when a letter came from Mark to his father saying that he had landed at New York, the old hope revived, and the love, which had never ceased, asserted its sway, and he sought opportunity to ask the old question over again. One evening Daniel strolled down to the quay to see his boat, while Rebecca went to inquire for Mrs. Craddock. Arthur sat in the little kitchen reading, or rather, he appeared to be reading, for he held the book before him. But his thoughts were elsewhere. He was thinking of the old days before he went to sea, when the course of love was running smoothly despite unfavourable worldly circumstances, and contrasting that time with the present, when lucrative work was ensured to him as soon as he was strong enough to take it, but his bride was again to be wooed and won, or lost, as the case might be. He looked up as one caught in some wrongdoing as Jenifer entered and stood, for the first time since his return, alone in his presence. In her embarrassment she would have made an excuse to leave the room, but he called her back. "Jenifer," he said, in the old loving tone. She made no answer, but sank into a -chair, covering her blushing face with both hands. "Jenifer," he repeated. 'Yes, Arthur," she answered softly. "Will you be vexed with me for speaking to you? You know what I am going to say ? " Jenifer shook her head in answer to these questions. "Your mother has been telling me about Mark Rundle, and his going abroad after I came back, but I want to hear from your own lips the true story. I do not blame you for not waiting for me. I was away too long for you to suppose I should ever come back again; but if you loved Mark, |