her, or amusing themselves with Spider. They
kept him fast by his chain for fear of his slipping off the vessel's
side. If he had done so he would have been down the throat of a shark
in an instant, for the brutes had found us out, and I saw half a score
at a time cruising round the wreck as if they expected a feast before
long. It wasn't pleasant, and I couldn't help sometimes thinking that
they would not be disappointed. I kept my eye turning round the horizon
in the hopes of seeing the signs of a breeze which might bring up a
vessel to our help. I looked in vain. The ocean shone like a sheet of
glass--not a cat's-paw even for a moment played over its surface. We
ate but little, even the fruit did not take away our thirst. It was
water we wanted, and without it the rum, of which we had plenty, was of
no use. It tasted like fire when we put it to our lips, so the young
gentlemen would not touch it.

"The scorching day came to an end at last. The night gave us some
relief, and then Mr Rogers served out half a glass of wine to each of
us with our biscuit and fruit. We made ourselves fast to the rigging as
we had done the night before, and the midshipmen went to sleep with
Spider nestling down among them, just as if they had been accustomed to
it all their lives. Before I could close my eyes I made certain that
they were secure--I don't mean to say that they slept all the night
through. I several times heard them talking, and even joking, trying to
keep up each other's spirits, and then they would get drowsy and go to
sleep, and then rouse up again and have another yarn. I couldn't sleep
many minutes together, for I couldn't help thinking of what might befall
the poor young gentlemen if the calm was to continue, for the fruit was
spoiling, we had only an orange apiece for the next morning, and the
wine and dry biscuit without water wouldn't keep life in them many
hours, while another day's sun was striking down on their heads--I might
hold out long after they were gone. This was the thing that troubled
me. I couldn't lie quiet, and I was every ten minutes getting up and
looking round, though I knew well enough that without wind no vessel
could come near us. Towards morning I fell asleep for a longer spell.
I was awoke by the sun coming into my eyes, and looking round what
should I see but Master Spider sitting close to the basket of
provisions, sucking away at an orange in his paws. I shouted out to the