now burning up briskly from
the chips shovelled on to it, could be seen sparkling and leaping up in
spurts of flame through the open flap that had been left to serve for a
doorway.

"And now, I kalkerlate, it's time for grub," said the American when the
tent was finished and the ladies' comfort provided for--Captain Dinks,
still in his cot, being ensconced in a warm corner--"I hope that blessed
darkey has got something good, for I feel powerful holler, I dew!"

He need not, however, have been in any doubt as to Snowball's capacity.
That worthy allowed nothing to interfere with the exercise of his
culinary skill; so, when the first mate by Mr Meldrum's directions had
"piped down" all hands, he had ready a repast which appeared to the
hungry castaways more like a splendid banquet than an improvised meal,
and one as well cooked as if Snowball had all the facilities of the
galley on shipboard to prepare it. His chief dish was a well-seasoned
"Irish stew," compounded of salt beef and preserved vegetables, which
seemed on that cold evening a perfect _chef-d'oeuvre_, and would, as Mr
Lathrope "guessed" after a third helping, have "made a man leave his
grandmother for his wife's mother's aunt, any day!"

Soon after the meal was finished, night came on, when the snow began to
fall heavily and the wind to blow piercingly from the north'ard and
westward, just as it had done the evening before when the poor _Nancy
Bell_ was struggling round Cape Saint Louis and rushing on to her doom;
but the castaways happily were now sheltered from the inclemencies of
the weather, and as they one and all nestled into their blankets as soon
as bedtime came;--man and woman, Jack tar and landsman alike!--thanked
God fervently that they were now no longer on board ship.

Towards morning, a slight alarm was created by some of the melted snow
finding its way down upon the sleepers through the sail that served for
the roofing of their tent; but this was soon remedied by lashing over it
the old tarpaulin from off the cabin skylight, which, it may be
recollected, was only thought of at the last moment, although such a
useful article. The leak in the roof stopped, all turned to sleep again
with the greater zest, enjoying such a night's rest as they had not had
for the last week at sea--not a soul indeed waking up till long after
daybreak, all were so dead tired out with the fatigue and anxiety they
had undergone.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

NEARL