“So she hasn’t given me up yet! Bless the little woman! Well, there’s a chance of getting there now. I didn’t think there was any hope of it three days ago, when the mate died, and left Nimbus and me alone on the old brig, and I too weak to lift a rope’s end.” “Do you mean to say, father,” exclaimed Breeze, who had not comprehended the true state of affairs before this, “that you two are the only ones left aboard?” “Yes,” replied the captain, sadly, “we have buried all the rest, and are the only survivors of a crew of twelve souls.” “That’s the reason, then, you’re under such short sail.” “Yes, she was got under this canvas in a blow, two weeks ago, while the mate and two others of the crew were alive, and still able to work. Since then there has not been force enough on board to do anything with them. Nimbus is as strong as an ox, and he can manage the head-sails alone. I believe he got the course clewed up too; but the poor fellow has had a hard time trying to steer, cook, wait on me, keep a lookout, set the lights, ring the fog-bell, bury the dead, and in fact do all the work of twelve men. He fell asleep last night on the cabin floor, utterly exhausted. This morning I was going to try and shift for myself, and let him have his sleep out. I was about to look for something to eat when you came aboard. I’m feeling hungry for the first time in weeks.” “Faith, sir!” cried Wolfe, “it must be catching. I’m so hungry myself that if starving’s any worse it would take a wiser man than I am to point out the difference. And to think, Breeze, of the elegant biscuit we left behind in the dory! If we’d only eaten them yesterday, and had the comfort of them! Never mind, we’ll have them up after a while for a dessert, like, for of all the sea-biscuit ever I tasted those have the finest flavor. But here comes breakfast now, praised be the cook!” Nimbus was going to carry the breakfast down into the cabin, but Captain McCloud said they had better eat on deck, on account of the fever that had been in the cabin. “I tried to warn you, Breeze, against coming too close to me when I first saw you,” he added, “but you didn’t seem to pay any attention.” “As if I could have, father, when I was so surprised and so happy!” replied Breeze, reproachfully. Never had a meal tasted better, or been more thoroughly enjoyed by the dorymates than this one, and it seemed as though they could not stop eating. Even Captain McCloud developed a wonderful appetite for a sick man. He ate so heartily that Nimbus, who waddled around them, his face beaming with pleasure, as he brought them this thing or that, began to grow somewhat anxious and exclaimed, “Take care, cap’n; you’ ’tomach’s powerful weak yet, an’ you mus’n’t s’prise um too much!” “Which are you now, Nimbus, doctor or cook?” asked Captain McCloud, smiling at the faithful fellow’s anxiety.