WATER!

FEARFUL WANT OF WATER--FUEL NEARLY EXHAUSTED--AURORA AUSTRALIS SEEN--
ICEBERG IN SIGHT--APPROACH IT TO OBTAIN WATER--SEALS DISCOVERED ON
ICEBERG--SEALS ATTACKED--SEVERAL SEALS KILLED--A PARTY GET ON THE
ICEBERG--FRESH WATER OBTAINED--ICEBERG BEGINS TO MOVE--FLIGHT FOR LIFE--
LAUNCH NEARLY OVERWHELMED--THE CUTTER NOT TO BE SEEN--LAUNCH PROCEEDS ON
HER COURSE--MORE BIRDS KILLED--DANGER FROM WHALES--PROVISIONS BECOMING
SCARCE--LAND SEEN FAR OFF--SUFFERINGS FROM THIRST--A DARK NIGHT--THE
LAUNCH APPROACHES A ROCK--PARTY LAND ON THE ROCK--BIRD COLONY ATTACKED--
SEALS DISCOVERED--THE DOCTOR SLIPS DOWN THE ROCK--THE SEALS ESCAPE--NO
WATER TO BE FOUND--FUEL OBTAINED FROM A WRECK--LYING IN WAIT FOR THE
SEALS--A SAIL SEEN IN THE DISTANCE--THE CUTTER ARRIVES--STARVING STATE
OF CUTTER'S CREW--HOW THEY ESCAPED FROM THE BERG--PETER'S GENEROUS
CONDUCT--THE PARTY ENCAMP ON THE ROCK--A NIGHT SCENE ON ROCK--HARRY'S
MEDITATIONS.

Two days had passed away. Every drop of water, with the exception of a
small quantity the doctor could produce from his still, was exhausted; a
gill alone could be distributed to each person during the
four-and-twenty hours and sometimes even that quantity could but with
difficulty be procured. The salt provisions also, on which they had to
exist, made every one thirsty, and the bright sun shining down on their
heads increased their desire for water. Thirst--thirst--many now for
the first time learned the real significance of that word. From both
boats voices in plaintive accents were crying out for water. Oh! how
many would gladly have given everything they possessed for a draught of
the pure liquid; yet, although the still was kept going night and day,
no more water beyond the small measure could be produced, and the doctor
knew that his fuel was getting to an end. A portion of the charcoal in
the bag still remained, but that was kept for cooking purposes. There
were, likewise, a few fragments of broken-up cases and other pieces of
wood, which might for a short time feed the stove; but they would
speedily be exhausted. "What will then become of us all?" thought the
doctor. "Heaven in mercy protect us!"

Harry Shafto was at the helm. The two boats were gliding over the
mirror-like ocean, which reflected on its surface the bright stars
overhead. Willy was by his side, declaring that, though it was his
watch below, he could not go to sleep. "What strange light is that?"
exclaimed Willy sudd