fore, secured and strengthened, and a flooring formed
inside it, on which were placed the portions of sail which had been
collected and dried, and the clothing from the chests, so as to make a
couch, which, although very rude, afforded a resting-place, for which
the two poor girls were most grateful.

Paolo stationed himself outside the tent, at a short distance only from
them, and Zappa arranged a resting-place among the casks of water, and
the provisions, and chests, which he had taken care should not be
embarked. The men, after a supply of food had been served out to them,
huddled together, wrapped up in their _capotes_, on the bare rock, near
where they had been working, and held a whispered conversation together,
which lasted for some time after darkness covered the face of the deep.
Paolo's mind, troubled and unhinged with the thoughts of the past, and
the darkening prospect of the future, for long refused to allow sleep to
visit his eyelids. He listened to ascertain whether his sister and Miss
Garden were still awake; but from the perfect silence in their tent, he
trusted that they had been more blessed. He then stood up to look round
the rock. The irate chief was sitting on a chest, with his arms folded
across is breast, and apparently, from his upright position, still full
of care, and on the watch on all around. The people had thrown
themselves down where they had been sitting, and seemed to be fast
asleep. The sea was calm, as it had been in the morning before the
squall; and, though no moon was up, the myriads of stars, which
glittered in the sky, threw a light over it even to a far distance, and
enabled him to discern many of the reefs and rocky islets which
surrounded them, while close at hand was seen, like a skeleton of some
huge monster of the deep, the last remnant of the once gallant _Sea
Hawk_.

Wearied with standing, Paolo again sunk down on the rock. He was awoke
by a voice which he knew to be that of Zappa.

"Rouse up, Paolo!" he said. "You have taken your share of sleep, and I
would fain snatch some moments of rest to prepare me for the toils of
to-morrow; and yet I dare not sleep without leaving some one in whom I
can confide on the watch."

"Why, what mean you?" asked Paolo, starting up. "I will gladly watch--
but what have you to fear? Surely, no enemies are near us."

"Ah! you know not what was nearly occurring this morning, or you would
not ask the question," said Zappa, in a