gh all
hands were growing daily weaker, no deaths had occurred, nor had anyone
any particular sickness. However, anxiety of mind now helped to make
our poor captain ill, and he took to his cot. The daily provision for
each of us consisted also of but three ounces of bread, and half a pint
of water. We agreed to this, because we felt that it was enough to
sustain life for some time, and that it was better to have a little each
day than have to go many days without any food at all. The officers
proposed, however, before long, to diminish even this small allowance--
though, by mixing a little spirits with the water, our food sustained us
more than it would otherwise have done. Starvation, after a time, began
to tell sadly on our tempers; and we, who had generally lived in
good-fellowship with each other, spent the day in wrangling and
peevishness. A breeze, however, had again sprung up, which seemed to
steady the ship, though we could not keep her on her proper course.
Such was the state of things, when one morning Mr Carr going on deck,
as was his custom, to take a look-out, and to hoist our signal of
distress, he shouted out, `Sail, ho!'

"How did our hearts leap with joy as we heard those words! We all
crawled up as best we could to take a look at the stranger, which we
hoped would save us. She saw us, and drew nearer. The captain got the
mate and me to help him up on deck, and then, as he saw the approaching
vessel, his heart bursting forth with gratitude, he called on us all to
return thanks to God for the deliverance he hoped was at hand. His poor
wife, who had held out bravely, and scarcely ever left his side, wept
with joy at the thought that his life might yet be spared.

"`Now, my lads, let's see if we cannot get the ship somewhat clear of
water,' exclaimed Mr Carr, going to the pumps; `It will never do to
have it said that we did nothing to help ourselves.'

"I believe he did this to employ the men's minds till assistance could
reach us. He set the example, which we all followed; and, weak as we
were, we pumped away with such good-will that she rose perceptibly in
the water, showing us that there was no leak to injure her.

"At last the stranger, a large brig, reached us, and heaving-to just to
leeward, Mr Carr gave him an account of all that had happened to us.

"The master of the brig said that he was himself somewhat short of
provisions, but would send us what he could venture to give in his ow