ning, for that night we had no hopes of being taken off the
wreck. The squall had rapidly passed off, and the ocean was now as calm
as before. The sky was clear, and the sun went down in a blaze of
glory, shedding a bright ruddy hue over the wide expanse which
surrounded us. Night came on, and the stars burst forth from the blue
vault of heaven, and cast their reflection on the smooth, mirror-like
water, as we sat on, hour after hour, afraid of going to sleep, lest we
should slip from our hold, yet longing for repose. At last it occurred
to me to have the rope passed from one to the other, and secured round
our waists, so that if one fell asleep and began to slip, the rest might
support him. Thus we got through the longest night I had ever then
passed.

The grey dawn came at length, and as the light rapidly increased, we
looked anxiously around the horizon, but nothing but the smooth glassy
sea met our sight. Oh, then, well do I remember it! There came over me
a deep sense of our utter helplessness, and of the palpable necessity of
dependence on a higher power. Of what use was our strength? Of what
use was our seamanship? Our strength without food would quickly leave
us; while all we could do was to sit still. I spoke my thoughts to my
companions. They listened attentively, and we all knelt down together
on our unstable support, and prayed to God for preservation from our
great peril. After this act we felt refreshed and encouraged; and I
observed that the voices of my companions assumed a more cheerful tone
than before. Our trials, however, were but commencing. As the sun rose
in the sky, his beams struck down on our undefended heads and scorched
us dreadfully, till Jack bethought him of fastening his handkerchief
over the top of his, and we followed his example. Instead of breakfast,
we each of us took a quid from Sandy's box, and that had the effect of
staying our appetites for some hours. This, however, did not satisfy
our stomachs entirely, and a short time after noon we could no longer
resist attacking our scanty store of provisions. My biscuit I broke in
two, and returning one-half to my pocket, I divided the other into four
parts, Jack treating his lump of grease in the same way. We ate it with
a relish I can scarcely describe. It was the only food we consumed for
the whole of the day. Again the sun went down without a sail having
appeared. That night passed away as had the former one, thoug