"No;" he answered. "I flew here through the air." And then he explained to them the wonderful electric traveling machine.
But the sailors had no interest whatever in the relation. Their disappointment was something awful to witness, and one of them laid his head upon his comrade's shoulder and wept with unrestrained grief, so weak and discouraged had they become through suffering.
The disappointment of the sailors was something
awful to witness
Suddenly Rob remembered that he could assist them, and took the box of concentrated food tablets from his pocket.
"Eat these," he said, offering one to each of the sailors.
At first they could not understand that these small tablets would be able to allay the pangs of hunger; but when Rob explained their virtues the men ate them greedily. Within a few moments they were so greatly restored to strength and courage that their eyes brightened, their sunken cheeks flushed, and they were able to converse with their benefactor with calmness and intelligence.