said Glynn, with a deep, long-drawn sigh. "Do it again,
Tim, do it again. That's it,--again, again! No, stop; forgive my
selfishness; here, give me the bucket, I'll do it to you now."

Tim Rokens was quickly drenched from head to foot, and felt great and
instantaneous relief. In a few minutes every one in the boat, Jacko
included, was subjected to this species of cold bath, and their spirits
rose at once. Some of them even began to eat their food, and Briant
actually attempted to perpetrate a joke, which Gurney seconded promptly,
but they failed to make one, even a bad one, between them.

Although the cold bathing seemed good for them at first, it soon proved
to be hurtful. Sitting and lying constantly night and day in saturated
clothes had the effect of rendering their skins painfully sensitive, and
a feverish feeling was often alternated with cold shivering fits, so
they were fain to give it up. Still they had found some slight relief,
and they bore their sufferings with calm resignation--a state of mind
which was fostered, if not induced, by the blessed words of comfort and
hope which the captain read to them from the Bible as frequently as his
strength would permit, and to which they listened with intense,
all-absorbing interest.

It is ever thus with men. When death approaches, in almost all
instances, we are ready--ay, anxious--to listen with the deepest
interest to God's message of salvation through His Son, and to welcome
and long for the influences of the Holy Spirit. Oh! how happy should we
be in life and in death, did we only give heartfelt interest to our
souls' affairs _before_ the days of sorrow and death arrive.

On the fifth morning after the water had been exhausted the sun arose in
the midst of dark clouds. The men could scarcely believe their eyes.
They shouted and, in their weakness, laughed for joy.

The blessing was not long delayed. Thick vapours veiled the red sun
soon after it emerged from the sea, then a few drops of rain fell.
Blessed drops! How the men caught at them! How they spread out oiled
cloths and tarpaulins and garments to gather them! How they grudged to
see them falling around the boat into the sea, and being lost to them
for ever. But the blessing was soon sent liberally. The heavens above
grew black, and the rain came down in thick heavy showers. The
tarpaulins were quickly filled, and the men lay with their lips to the
sweet pools, drinking-in new life, and