t, we'll be all thrown in the water."

"I have thought of that," said Captain Miles. "We'll brace up this raft
of spars here close in under the bulwarks inboard, and then we'll be on
the safe side of the hedge if she comes up while we're napping! Let us
have another drink of water now, Jackson, my lad, and turn in for the
night, for I've no doubt you're all pretty tired. I'm sorry I can't
pipe down to supper."

"You are not more sorry than I am," put in Mr Marline drily. "I could
eat with the greatest gusto the skeleton of my grandmother's cat now!"

This speech of his had the very effect he wished of making the men laugh
at their privation. Judging by my own feelings, they must have felt
terribly hungry and empty; for, instead of two days, it seemed two years
since I had tasted food.

I was fairly famishing!

There was no chance yet, however, of our getting anything to eat; so, in
accordance with Captain Miles's directions, preparations were now made
for our accommodation during the night, as the evening was beginning to
close in and darkness to settle down on the face of the deep, veiling
the waste of waters from the gaze of us poor shipwrecked fellows.

The loose spars detached from the masts were hauled up lengthwise along
the bulwarks on the inner side of the poop, where they were lashed
securely so as to form a sort of shelf; and, on this, all hands now
settled themselves as comfortably as they could--Captain Miles with Mr
Marline and myself being on the after part of the structure, while
Jackson with the others bunked down nearer the break of the poop; but,
each man was separately tied, for greater precaution, in case of the sea
getting up again and the waves breaking over the vessel.

While we had been moving about exerting ourselves, the sense of hunger
had not been so apparent, although all experienced its gnawing pain in a
greater or less degree; but now, resting quietly, doing nothing and
having to bear all the suspense of waiting for what might turn out
possibly to be only an uncertainty on the morrow, the ravenous feeling
that assailed us became almost unbearable, several of the men moaning
and groaning in their sleep.

As for myself, I know that when I dozed off in fragmentary snatches of
sleep I dreamed of all sorts of splendid banquets, with nice dishes such
as I had often tasted in the West Indies when dad gave a dinner-party;
only to waken up in the still darkness and hear the melancholy