ht carry them.

There was not much movement any way, and for several hours before and
after noon they lay almost becalmed upon the ocean. This period was
passed in silence and inaction. There was nothing for them to talk about
but their forlorn situation, and this topic had been exhausted. There
was nothing for them to do. Their only occupation was to watch the sun,
until, by its sinking lower in the sky, they might discover its
_westing_.

Could they at that moment have elevated their eyes only three feet
higher, they would not have needed to wait for the declination of the
orb of day. They would have seen land, such land as it was; but, sunk as
their shoulders were almost to the level of the water, even the summits
of the sand dunes were not visible to their eyes.

When the sun began to go down towards the horizon, they once more plied
their palms against the liquid wave, and sculled the spar eastward. The
sun's lower limb was just touching the western horizon, when his red
rays, glancing over their shoulders, showed them some white spots that
appeared to rise out of the water.

Were they clouds? No! Their rounded tops, cutting the sky with a clear
line, forbade this belief. They should be hills, either of snow or of
sand. It was not the region for snow: they could only be sand-hills.

The cry of "land" pealed simultaneously from the lips of all,--that
cheerful cry that has so oft given gladness to the despairing
castaway,--and redoubling their exertions, the spar was propelled
through the water more rapidly than ever.

Reinvigorated by the prospect of once more setting foot upon land, they
forgot for the moment thirst, hunger, and weariness, and only occupied
themselves in sculling their craft towards the shore.

Under the belief that they had still several miles to make before the
beach could be attained, they were one and all working with eyes turned
downward. At that moment old Bill, chancing to look up, gave utterance
to a shout of joy, which was instantly echoed by his youthful
companions: all had at the same time perceived the long sand-spit
projecting far out into the water, and which looked like the hand of
some friend held out to bid them welcome.

They had scarce made this discovery before another of like pleasant
nature came under their attention. That was, that they were _touching
bottom_! Their legs, bestriding the spar, hung down on each side of it;
and to the joy of all they now felt their fee