Had we been in our own ship, we should certainly have thought
very little of the gale; but in this frail canoe we had ample reason to
dread its consequences. At length the wind shifted, and drove us on in
what the islanders considered our proper course. We ran on for some
days without seeing land, and then the gale blew over and left us
becalmed under a burning sun. We had carefully from the first husbanded
our water, having the advantage of the previous experience of our
companions. As it was, we had barely sufficient to quench the constant
thirst produced by the heat. Every day, too, seemed to increase our
thirst and to diminish our stock of the precious fluid. Our hope had
been to fall in with some vessel which might either supply us or give us
a course to the nearest island where we might obtain it. One forenoon,
when we had been suffering even more than usual, the chief declared that
he saw a vessel on our weather bow, and that she would cross our course.
With intense eagerness and hope we all looked out for her. As her
sails rose out of the water, we saw that she was a schooner. If we
could but get on board her, we thought that we might again in time
rejoin the _Triton_. We were very certain that Captain Frankland would
not cease to look for us while a chance remained of our being
discovered. Gradually we neared the schooner. I saw Cousin Silas and
Ben Yool looking at her with great earnestness.

"What is she, Ben, do you think?" asked Cousin Silas.

"Why, Mr Brand, as you know, sir, I've been boxing about the world for
the best part of the last forty years, and I think I ought to know one
craft from another, and to my mind that vessel is no other than the
piratical craft we were so long aboard. I say, if you ask me, sir, that
we ought to stand clear of her. She'll bring us no good."

"Exactly my idea," answered Cousin Silas; "the wretches might very
likely send us to the bottom, or carry us off again as prisoners."

We were, however, too near the schooner to hope to escape from her; but
we agreed that we might lie concealed while the canoe sailed quietly by
her, and that, probably, no questions would be asked. We had some
little difficulty in explaining the character of the vessel to our
friends. When they did understand it, they seemed to be much horrified,
and undertook carefully to conceal us. As we drew near the schooner,
the rest of our party went below; but I wrapped myself up in a piec