rds the
shore.
With the prospects I had in view, I had no particular wish to exert
myself, and I saw that, even if I did so to the utmost, we could make no
way against the breeze and the current setting in an opposite direction.
The sun rose, and struck down with burning fury on our heads; and I
knew, when the wind fell, it would be hotter still. At length I began
to feel the pangs of hunger, and, to my satisfaction, I found that some
considerate friend had put a few biscuits and a keg of water into the
boat. With this I refreshed myself, and so did the black; and I began
to hope that he was grateful to me for releasing him from the gag, and
that he would bear witness to having seen me bound like the rest.
When we found that we could make no way with the paddles, we gave it up,
and set to work to try and revive our companions. We unlashed their
arms and legs, and by degrees they came to themselves. They were very
much surprised at what had happened, and could not account for it.
"Well, no use talking here," observed Mark Anthony, whose wits being
brighter than theirs, was for active measures. "If we no get on shore,
we all die togeder."
I suggested that we might manufacture some more paddles out of the
bottom-boards; and that by bending our handkerchiefs and jackets
together we might form a sail, which, when the sea-breeze set in, might
enable us to reach some part of the coast. No one having any better
advice to offer, mine was adopted: two more pairs of paddles were
formed; but though they enabled us to make some little headway, it was
very slowly.
My companions now grew weary; and the looked-for breeze not arriving,
they began to lose their tempers, as people are apt to do, even without
so much reason, after a debauch.
"It was all your fault, youngster," suddenly exclaimed the mate, turning
to me; "you brought me the stuff which capsized me."
"And he brought it to us," said one of the men who had been guarding the
main-hatchway.
"And to us also," cried those who had been forward.
"Den," exclaimed the black, giving a most diabolical grin from ear to
ear, which made my blood run cold, "he done it on purpose: dere was
someting in it, no doubt."
Oh, now my heart sunk within me; for their suspicions once being set on
the right scent, I feared they would discover the truth. However, I put
a bold face on the matter, and answered, "I found the spirit--I tasted
it, and thought it very good, so
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