yed in putting the boat to rights, re-stowing carefully
everything of value, and heaving overboard several useless and heavy
articles. The carpenters' first care was to tighten the hoops round the
water-casks, and it was hoped that, if water could be procured, the
leaky cask would now hold it. The empty cases were now broken-up for
firewood, to assist the doctor in his operations; and when they heard
what he was about, the spirits of most of the party revived. Poor Mrs
Morley and her daughters, however, could not forget the brave colonel
left to perish with his men; and Mrs Rumbelow, though she did her best
to cheer others, every now and then uttered a sigh she could not
suppress, as she looked in the direction where the ship had been left.
The day was drawing to a close.

"Hurra!" shouted Willy, "the cutter is nearing us. I have been watching
her for some time--they have got out their oars--that shows they have
some strength left."

Still the other boat was at a considerable distance when night closed
in. There was no change in the weather. The sky was clear and the
stars shone out brilliantly; the watch was set, and all hands not on
duty lay down to sleep, sheltering themselves as best they could under
the thwarts, among the packages, or covering themselves up with cloaks,
or pieces of sail-cloth or matting. Willy took the first watch. He
felt not a little proud, as he sat in the stern-sheets, at being the
only officer on duty. Strange sounds came across the ocean. He was
sure that some were made by whales, as they rose to breathe at the
surface. Now and then a splash was heard as some huge monster leaped
out of the water. Suddenly a large flabby mass was dashed against his
face, and at the same time several other dark objects sprang into the
boat.

"Hilloa!" cried the doctor, towards whom one of them had directed its
course. "Who gave me that slap in the face? Ah, I see," he added,
sitting up and lifting the flabby mass in his hand. "A
_cephalopoda-sepia octopus_, commonly called a squid. The fellow nearly
poked out my eye with his beak. What, Willy, were you assaulted too?"

Willy, who had been almost knocked over by the blow from the creature,
was just recovering himself.

"It nearly drilled a hole in my nose," said Willy, laughing.

"Well, never mind," exclaimed the doctor. "I wish only a few more would
come on board. They are ugly beasts; but, fried in butter, will serve
us for breakfast