Ned’s apprehensions made the day a hard one for him.  He was afraid of capsizing the canoe and being unable to get back in it.  He imagined a tarpon jumping into it, a shark swimming against it, or a porpoise smashing it.  When he reached the river of fresh water he carried the canoe up on the bank and tied it to a tree while he walked along the river bank and shot a few tender young birds for the nourishment of the invalid.  His nerves were so unstrung that he feared to go far lest he lose his way, and was even apprehensive of failing to find on his return the camp where his companion was awaiting him, although the path to it was plain as a pikestaff.  Ned’s meeting with Dick was a joyful one, for the boy was clearly better and his voice stronger, although his first words were: 

“Don’t go away again, Neddy.  You’ve been gone a year, and I thought you were never coming back.”

By careful economy the five gallons of water which their can contained was made to last as many days for the three of them, for Dick insisted that Tom must share the rations of food and drink of the other members of the family.  Each day Ned made a little trip around the keys nearest the camp by way of doing the marketing for his family, and returned when he had shot enough birds for its daily needs.  He was happy in the thought of the invalid’s increasing strength, but dreaded the necessary trip for fresh water.  Dick surprised him by bearing the separation with cheerfulness, and his voice was so much firmer and his strength so obviously on the mend that Ned began again to plan for his return to civilization.

On one of his marketing excursions Ned saw a skiff containing two men about a quarter of a mile distant.  He waved his hat to the men and paddled toward them, but they rowed away.  He followed, but was unable to find them, and concluded that they were outlaws, who did not care to extend their acquaintance.  After this he paddled about on the lookout for some one who might help him to carry Dick to the outside world, for he had given up the idea of attempting it by himself.

CHAPTER XXI

CONVALESCENCE AND CATASTROPHE

Ned’s hopes and plans were suddenly changed, and he no longer hoped for help, but planned to take Dick to the coast himself.  For Dick was getting well.  There was no doubt about it.  His appetite came back, until, instead of urging him to eat, Ned waited for him to ask twice for food before giving it to him.  He was still thin and weak, but his spirits bubbled over, and his laughter was on tap, ready to be turned on any minute.  He began to clamor for a move toward the coast, but Ned was obdurate and refused to stir for a week.  Then one day Ned started out and paddled some miles toward the coast, examining the shores of the keys and the mangrove-lined banks of the salt-water rivers for a camping-ground.  He could have made his own camp on the overflowed