his feet.

"A breeze! A breeze!" he shouted out, running to the sheets; but at
that instant a strong blast struck the vessel, and before the rest of
the crew could come on deck, with a loud crash both the masts were
carried away, and the brig lay as helpless as at first on the water.

With great exertions, however, the spars and sails were saved, and got
inboard. Still, it was evident that nothing could be done that night,
and they must wait till the wind abated, before they could again get up
their masts and sails.

"We have been waiting for this breeze, lads," said Mr Collinson, "and
now it has come, we ought to make the best use we can of it. Even if we
can rig a rag of a sail forward, it will help us along."

Though weak and ill, Mr Collinson set the example, and at length a
short spar with a royal was fixed to the stump of the foremast. Aided
by this, the vessel ran on before the wind. The breeze, however, though
moderate at first, increased towards daylight, and the vessel now began
to pitch and roll greatly. In the morning, when old Grim, who acted as
cook, sent Tommy for some water, he returned with a look of dismay. Not
a drop remained in the cask. This was sad news.

"Give me a lantern," said Bill; "and, Tommy, you and I will have another
hunt, and see if there is another cask to be found."

"It's of no use," observed old Grim; "I hunted everywhere, and could not
find one."

"Maybe we shall be more fortunate," said Bill; and, taking the lantern,
he and Tommy went down into the hold. The water was washing about
fearfully inside, and he could not help fearing that a good deal more
was now coming in than during the calm. There was some danger, too, of
their being struck by various articles which were tumbling about in the
hold, having broken loose, or been washed up by the water.

"See! See!" cried Bill. "Hold up the lantern! Why, that looks like a
water-cask!"

They waited till the vessel seemed steady for a moment; then, making a
rush together, they caught hold of the cask. It was but a small one,
such as was used to bring the water off, in boats, from the shore. It
was full: there was no doubt about that. Having secured it under the
hatchway, Bill told Tommy to go and call Jack or old Grim to assist them
in getting it up. Jack soon came down with a tackle, and the cask was
hoisted up on deck. It was quickly opened. Mr Collinson praised Bill
very much for finding it.

"And now, la