Chapter Thirty Four.
All for the Best.
Shaddy had preceded him, and neither of them heard the regular beat of oars and the faint splashing of water as four rowers, urged on by one in the stern, forced their way toward the spot from whence the hail had come, till the boat went crashing among the drooping boughs, was secured to the huge trunk, and after water and a little sopped bread had been administered, the three sufferers were carefully lowered down and laid under the shed-like awning.
Three weary days of delirium ensued before the first of the sufferers unclosed his eyes, illumined by the light of reason, and had the bright semicircle of light facing him eclipsed for the moment by a slight figure which crept in beneath the awning to give him food.
And then two more days elapsed before Rob could say feebly,—
“Tell me, Joe, have I been asleep and dreaming?”
“I hope so,” said the young Italian, pressing his hand.
“Then you are not dead?”
“Do I look like it? No; but I thought you were. Why, Rob, old chap, we only got back to you just in time.”