or more. Having hitherto
found it a place of safety they seemed afraid to quit it, while on the
sea around fragments of the wreck and broken spars were floating, a few
poor fellows clinging to them and crying for help to those who could
afford them none. A dull grey sky was overhead, and far as the eye
could reach the ocean seemed a mass of white foam increasing the
dreariness of the view, while in the far distance appeared a blue line
so faint that many doubted whether or not it was the land. On the rock
not a blade of grass nor a drop of water was to be found, so Hemming saw
that it would be necessary to use every exertion to provide for his men.
Accordingly he sent Jack and Adair with three of them to collect what
things they could pick up at the foot of the rock. Fortunately they
discovered four small breakers of water, and a couple of casks of salt
meat with a bag of bread. These they dragged to the top of the rock,
hoping to conceal them from the Spaniards. Unhappily the latter caught
sight of the casks of water, and, fancying that they contained brandy,
came hurrying up to get them into their power. In spite of all Jack and
Adair could do, one was broached and the invaluable contents recklessly
spilt on the ground. Still the Spaniards, unconvinced that the others
only contained water, advanced with threatening gestures towards the
English. Needham grasped his musket, Mr Hemming seized another, and
made signs that if they approached nearer they would blow out the brains
of a couple of them at all events. This made those in advance of the
rest hesitate, for they did not remember that the muskets had been
thoroughly wetted and could not go off. The Spanish officers generally
sided with the English, and tried to explain that, as there was no water
on the rock, all would be suffering from thirst, and that therefore the
contents of the casks were more precious than any spirits.

"That may be the case, but then those hated Englishmen shall not boast
that they prevented us from doing what we intended," exclaimed one of
them, rushing to seize a cask.

Hemming waited till the fellow got within reach of his fist, and he then
hit him such a blow on the chest that he sent him rolling back head over
heels till he reached the edge of the rock, when down he went among a
group of his comrades, who were sitting carousing together below. Each
of the Englishmen singled out an opponent, and treated him much in the
same w