s on the subjects of
dispute which frequently arose. Those who had retained their senses had
become hungry, and now demanded food. The doctor and Tidy had managed
to knock off the head of the beef-cask, and they served out a portion to
each man. It was, however, salt and hard, and tended to increase their
thirst.

Thus the day wore on, and Mr Lawrie could not help looking with serious
apprehensions to the future. As yet the two parties had not come to
actual blows, but it was evident that they would do so on a very slight
provocation. The only person over whom he could assert any beneficial
influence was Tidy, who, notwithstanding an Irishman's proverbial
affection for a "dhrop of the crater," willingly followed his advice,
and took only a small quantity of spirits with his share of water. Tidy
had fortunately filled his pockets with biscuit when he went into the
cabin to look for Alice. This he shared with the doctor, thus
preventing the beef from producing the thirst which it did in the
others, who ate it by itself. The Frenchmen had complained that smaller
rations were served out to them than the Englishmen took for themselves,
and, watching their opportunity, they suddenly rushed towards the
beef-cask. Capstick and his party defended it, and soon drove them back
again. Though no knives were drawn on the occasion, blows were
inflicted, and two of the combatants struggling together fell
overboard,--when, locked in a deadly embrace, they sank before their
companions could rescue them. Their fate for a time had the effect of
sobering the rest; and the doctor, in the hope of keeping them at peace,
advised that the two boatswains should together serve out the beef, and
see that their countrymen had equal shares.

We cannot follow the history of the unhappy men from day to day. Their
provisions had now come nearly to an end. One cask of rum and a portion
only of a breaker of water remained; and had not the doctor and Tidy
exerted themselves, this also would have been exhausted. Several men
were lying on the raft, and the doctor knew that they were dying, but he
could do nothing for them. He warned the rest; but they only laughed at
him, declaring that the men had only a little too much grog aboard, and
would soon come round.

They had made some progress to the westward, sometimes becalmed, and
sometimes considerably tossed about, when, soon after daybreak one
morning, they caught sight of a dead whale flo