ate the more perishable food and delicacies which the captain had laid in her lap.

That afternoon Mr. Rosevelt had a violent attack of vertigo, lying insensible for several hours; and now it was Star’s turn to pillow his head upon her lap and minister to his comfort.

She bathed his face and head almost constantly, and with her shawl shielded him from the sun, which during the day was very powerful, while from time to time she fed him with bits of biscuit moistened with port wine from a bottle which 27the captain had given her for him, striving in every way to keep up his strength.

27

He appeared to revive toward evening, and said he was better; but Star saw that he was very weak, and that it was only by great effort that he kept up at all.

Another night passed, another day came, and still there was no sail to gladden their strained and aching eyes.

The third day the captain said, with a stern brow and pale, compressed lips:

“Our provisions are nearly gone—they will last only one more day;” and he shortened every man’s ration, giving Star alone a generous portion.

She cast a pitying glance at the brave men toiling so uncomplainingly at their oars, and her heart sank as she thought what might be their fate.

Patiently she munched a single biscuit, while she slipped all the rest out of sight, hoarding it to fight the grim, gaunt monster which she feared was fast overtaking them.

Mr. Rosevelt had not been so well the day before; he was even worse this morning, and she was very anxious about him, for he would eat nothing, waving all food away with an expression of disgust, and only sipping a little wine occasionally, while he had become so weak that he could not sit up at all.

“He won’t live two days longer,” she heard one sailor whisper to another, when, a little later, he had another attack which utterly prostrated him. “He is failing rapidly, and eats nothing to keep up his strength.”

“He shall live!” Star said to herself, with an impulse born of despair; for he seemed her chief dependence, and she had grown to regard him with very tender feelings.

All night she watched over him, every half hour moistening his lips with wine, and forcing bits of biscuit soaked in it between them.

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