Whatever he might ask of her she would hold it right because he asked it. She had found him worthy. She would trust him completely, ask what he might. Yes, ... ask ... what ... he ... might. XLVIII "The sun's coming out," was his cheerful announcement, one morning when he came in with her breakfast. "And here's some fish for you at last." "The sight of it makes me hungry." "That's the best news you've given me for four days. There's some salt for you in payment," he said, with full pride of accomplishment. "Salt is a great treat. Have you left any for yourself?" "Oh, I've got some. I'm going to set up a regular salt factory as soon as you're about again." "I would like to get up and go on deck when I've had breakfast. Surely the ship is not so tilted as it was." "Not quite so bad, but I'm afraid it will never come quite right side up again. It's hard and fast on the shore at present. I could wade across." "I must see it. I will get up as soon as I have had my breakfast." "Can you manage?" he asked doubtfully. "You must keep that arm quiet, you know." "I'll try anyway. If I get stuck I will call," and in due course she called, and he found that she had managed to get her blankets round her, and that as gracefully as ever in some marvellous fashion, but she had doubted her power of getting out of the bunk in its lopsided state without his help. He stepped up on to the lower bunk, and worked his arms under her. "Now, if you wouldn't mind steadying yourself with your usable hand on my shoulder--so! There you are!" and he lifted her gently to her feet on the floor. "Now, hang on to my arm.... But your shoes?--you had better have them on. In your own room of course. Wait and I'll get them," and he climbed up and got them, and put them on and tied them for her. "I've pegged some slats across the slope for better foot-hold. You can't slip," and he got her safely out on to the deck. "It is delightful to be in fresh air again," she said, as she drank it in. "I wish the good weather would last for ever." "We'll hope for a good long spell anyhow. Doesn't it feel odd to be so close to the shore? We'll have rabbit for dinner. You must almost have forgotten what it tastes like." "I can still just remember," she laughed. "I'll get up some blankets and tuck you into this corner, and then I'll go and get some and some fresh water. Our raft's blown ashore and the other one also. I shall have to wade." He made her comfortable in the corner, got his buckets and a stick, and dropped over the side. She lay watching him as he waded ashore, saw him stop for a moment to examine the raft, and then, with a wave of the hand, he set off for the pools, swinging his buckets jauntily.