n that talking would only
make them feel it more, and advised them to put their shirt sleeves in
their mouths, and suck them; and then I climbed upon the bulwarks to see
if there was anything in sight. I knew that the greatest chance was
that the cutter would be looking after us; but, at the same time, it was
not yet likely that she would come so near to the sands.

I had been an hour on the gunnel, when Cross came up to me. "It's
banking up, sir to the southward: I hope we are not going to have any
more bad weather."

"I have no fear of a gale, although we may have thick weather," replied
I; "that would be almost as bad for us, as we should perish on the wreck
before we are discovered."

"I am going to lower myself down into the galley, Captain Keene, to see
if I can find anything."

"I fear you will not be successful," replied I, "for the coppers and
ranges are all carried away."

"I know that, sir; but I have been thinking of the cook's closet we had
built up above the bowsprit. I know that he used to stow away many
things there, and perhaps there may be something. I believe the
shortest way will be to go to leeward, and swim round to it."

Cross then left me, and I continued to look out. About an hour
afterwards he returned, and told me that he had easily opened it with
his knife, and had found eight or nine pounds of raw potatoes, and a
bucketful of slush. "We are not hungry enough to eat this now, sir; but
there is enough to keep the life in us all for three or four days at
least; that is, if we could get water, and I expect we shall feel the
want of that dreadfully in a short time. I would give a great deal if I
could only find a drop to give that poor fellow Anderson, with his
broken arm; it is terribly swelled, and he must suffer very much."

"Did you find anything in the closet to put water into, Cross; in case
we should get any?"

"Yes; there's two or three kids, and some small breakers, Captain
Keene."

"Well, then, you had better get them ready; for those clouds rise so
fast, that we may have rain before morning, and if so, we must not lose
the chance."

"Why, it does look like rain, sir," replied Cross. "I'll take one or
two of the men with me, to assist in getting them up."

I watched the horizon till night again set in. We were all very faint
and distressed for water, and the cool of the evening somewhat relieved
us; the breeze, too, was fresh. The men had remained quietly in the