iscuits apiece, with a small surplus, and for this
last the crew held a "raffle"--each time a single biscuit forming the
prize. For these prizes the men contended with as much eagerness, as if
there had been large sums of money staked on the result; and, indeed, it
would have been a large sum that would have purchased one of those
precious morsels of bread.

The "raffling," combined with the "rum"--which was now also meted out--
produced for some time a noisy excitement. But this was soon over; and
the sullen silence of despondency again ruled.

Some, already ravenous with hunger and reckless of consequences, ate
their two biscuits at once--while others, endowed with greater prudence
or stronger powers of endurance, only gnawed a small portion, and kept
the rest towards a future and more pressing necessity.

Thus passed the time till near sunset, with no event to cheer us--no new
prospect to beget a hope.

When near sunset, however, a grand excitement was produced, and all the
sweet joys of hope were again felt.

One of the men who had arisen to his feet, and was gazing over the sea,
suddenly cried out:--

"A sail--a sail!"

It would be impossible to describe the wild joy that these words
produced--men leaped to their feet, vociferating glad huzzas as they
repeated the words "a sail, a sail." Some pulled off their hats and
waved them in the air--some leaped and danced about as though frantic,
and even the most despairing behaved as if suddenly called to a new
life.

I have said it would be impossible to picture that scene; but still more
impossible to describe the contrast which, but the moment after, might
have been witnessed upon the raft, when it was ascertained that the cry
was a false alarm. No sail was in sight--there had been none--nothing
could be seen of ship or sail over the wide circle of the ocean--nothing
moved upon the glass-like face of that vast mirror.

A false alarm, entirely without foundation. Why the man had uttered it
was soon explained. The wild expressions that were pouring from his
lips, with the grotesque gestures he was making with his arms proved
that he was mad!

CHAPTER SIXTY FOUR.

Yes, the man was mad. The awful occurrences of the preceding night had
deprived him of his reason, and he was now a raving maniac.

Some cried out to throw him into the sea. No one opposed this counsel.
It would have been carried into execution--for several were prepared to
lay hold o