superior to the rest in
rank. He sat by himself, slowly eating crumb by crumb his share of
biscuit, and gazing with steadfast eyes towards the land of his birth.
Once more the wind got up, and sent the water washing over the frail
raft, which worked fearfully, as if it would come to pieces.

"Never fear, my lads," said Hemming, "I know of no part which will give
way. It will hold together, depend on that." In spite of all the
working it did hold together. Hemming's face, though his words were
always cheering, looked very grave. "Rogers, Adair, my friends," he
said solemnly, "the water is expended, and there are no more biscuits--
how shall I announce it to these poor fellows?" He thought a little.
"Come now, lads," he cried out, "be smart about catching some fish; a
change of food will do us all good."

No one asked for more biscuits or water; they knew it was all gone.
Some gave way under the appalling thought. One of the Spaniards went
raving mad, and threw himself into the sea, whence no one had strength
to pull him out; the other fell back and died quietly.

"Some of our men won't hold out much longer," observed Jack to Hemming;
"can we do nothing for them?"

"Nothing," answered Hemming solemnly. The cool air of the night seemed
to revive them; but when the hot sun came out, and shone down on their
unprotected heads, they died. Two more went raving mad. They chattered
and sang, and then howled and shrieked. It was with difficulty they
could be held down. One of them escaped from his companions, and threw
himself into the sea. The other was prevented from following his
example, but his strength gradually decreased till he also died.
Scarcely was his body sent into the deep, than a fair wind sprang up,
and the sail being hoisted, the raft went along at the rate of three or
four miles an hour. No one had relaxed their efforts to catch a shark.
A shout was given (not a loud one, for their voices were already hollow
and weak), and several men were seen hauling in the head and shoulders
of a large shark. How eager and anxious was the expression of their
countenances, for they all dreaded lest their prize should escape them.
Their strength too was scarcely adequate to the task. At last he was
hauled up on the raft, but so violent were his struggles, that he nearly
threw some of the people into the sea as they crawled up to him to
despatch him with their axes. At last Jack, not knowing what mischief
mi