Day after day passed by, and though one or the other was constantly on
the look-out, no distant sail met their anxious gaze.

Peter was thankful that the captain appeared to be slowly recovering his
strength, though still unable to move. By husbanding their provisions,
the little party on the shore hoped to support existence for some weeks
to come.

When Hixon arrived one day with their usual supply of water, he brought
word that the rest of the crew had deserted the spring and were nowhere
to be seen. He thought probably that they had gone down to the shore to
try and catch fish, or collect mussels, or anything that might have been
thrown up. He and his companions were searching about for the same
object, that they might eke out the diminishing store of their more
nutritive food, and give the captain a larger supply. Peter, when not
thus employed, read to the captain, as also to the other men, and Bill
and the black were well pleased to listen, as were the captain and
Hixon. Indeed, the light of God's blessed truth shone on the small
shipwrecked party, and shed on them its warmth and healing influence.
It never occurred to young Peter to pride himself that the light shone
from the lamp he carried within him.

The weather had again changed, and instead of a balmy breeze and
sunshine, a fierce gale was blowing, and heavy showers came down upon
their heads.

They were sitting beneath the shelter of their tent, while Peter was
reading to them, when voices were heard, and several of the crew
appeared. They looked wretched, and nearly starved.

"Hilloa!" cried one of them, seeing the cask of provisions near the
entrance of the hut. "What, have you still got food? We thought that
you must be as badly off as we are."

The rest came up, and though the captain, with his friends,
expostulated, and promised to give the men a small portion, they took
possession of more than half of the remaining provisions. With the
supply of food they had thus obtained, they returned to their former
camp near the spring. The captain was deeply grieved.

"It would have killed me with rage a short time ago, but I feel more
sorry for them now; and I am afraid the food will only prolong their
lives a day or two, while the want of it may shorten ours."

As was to be expected, in a couple of days they returned for more. Bill
proposed fighting as he saw them coming, rather than give it up.

"It would only make matters worse," obse