en
eels, but were very probably snakes. Frogs and snails in a dried or
pickled state were not more tempting; but at last they came on a basket
of shell-fish, which, with some unboiled rice, stopped the gnawings of
hunger, but did not make a very satisfying meal. They were afraid then
of lighting a fire, but they agreed that they would do so in the
morning.

Once more they took to their oars. They now, however, could not make
much progress, nor could they have done so had a breeze sprung up, as
they possessed no sails. They hoped, therefore, that it would continue
calm. In this, however, they were destined to be disappointed. Not
long past midnight a gentle zephyr began to play over the surface of the
water, and soon it turned into a light breeze, and that increased into a
stiff one, and by degrees it grew stronger and stronger, and the sea got
up and tossed the boat about, and that made Madame Dubois scream as loud
as before, and now and then the spray washed over them, and then she
screamed louder still; and next it was discovered that the boat leaked,
and it was necessary to employ two men constantly in baling to keep her
afloat. The more she tumbled about the more she leaked, and the louder
poor Madame Dubois screamed. Her daughter proved herself a regular
heroine, and made no noise, and only grasped the side of the boat
tighter as it rose and fell on the seas. The morning approached, but
matters did not improve; the wind blew stronger; the waves grew higher
and seriously threatened to swamp the boat.

"I say, Alick, this is no fun," observed Jack. "What's to be done?"

"We must get under the lee of the land till the gale moderates,"
answered Murray.

The wind, it must be observed, was favourable; but the sea had now got
up so much, that it was dangerous to run before it. Captain Willock
agreed to Murray's proposal, and, watching their opportunity, they got
the boat round head to the seas, and pulled in for the shore. This was
very trying after all their labours; but they were not the only people
in the world who have to toil in vain, or have to undo all the work they
have done and begin again. They now shipped less water, but they made
very little way in consequence of the heavy sea. Daylight at last came,
but did not exhibit a pleasant prospect. The green seas tumbled and
foamed about them; the dark clouds hurried along overhead, while about
three miles off appeared the land with the harbour they