"Don't be afraid," said Robur in French, "we have come to help you.
Who are you?"

"We belong to the barque "Jeannette," and I am the mate. We left her
a fortnight ago as she was sinking. We have no water and no food."

The four other men had now sat up. Wan and exhausted, in a terrible
state of emaciation, they lifted their hands towards the "Albatross."

"Look-out!" shouted Robur.

A line was let down, and a pail of fresh water was lowered into the
boat. The men snatched at it and drank it with an eagerness awful to
see.

"Bread, bread!" they exclaimed.

Immediately a basket with some food and five pints of coffee
descended towards them. The mate with difficulty restrained them in
their ravenousness.

"Where are we?" asked the mate at last.

"Fifty miles from the Chili coast and the Chonos Archipelago,"
answered Robur.

"Thanks. But we are becalmed, and--?"

"We are going to tow you."