60 THE SHIPWRECK,

the breakers, without a thought of his own security. At
the sound of his voice the drowning animal (for it proved
to be a dog) seemed animated with new vigour, and ma-
king one last effort, reached the feet of the count.

“My poor Neptune! is it you? exclaimed the count,
in a tone of joy mingled with sadness. “ Alas !” continued
he, “the Achilles is lost. O! my good, my generous uncle.”
But, recollecting that a part of the company were probably
saved by means of the pinnace, and chiding the excess of
his own grief, he arose and pursued his researches, accom-
panied by his faithful Neptune, who was leaping with joy
at having found his master.

Proceeding slowly along, he beheld some cocoa-nuts
scattered on the sand. Burning with thirst he raised one
to his parched lips; when calling te mind that they were
some of those which young Merville had collected, and
which had fallen from his arms whilst he was carrying
them to the boat, he threw the yet untasted fruit to the
ground, exclaiming, ‘* No, it is impossible for me to taste
it 1”

He was now standing on the very spot where he and
his unhappy companions had disembarked. The view of
this place filled his eyes with bitter tears. He continued