ot even water."

This was Daggett, the long-tried sealer; the man of iron nerves and golden
longings; he who had so lately concentrated within himself all that was
necessary to form a pertinacious, resolute, and grasping seeker after
gain. How changed, now, in all this! He asked for the means of preserving
life, and thought no more of skins, and oils, and treasures on desert
keys.

Roswell was no sooner apprised of the situation of his brother-master,
than he bestowed the necessary care on his wants. Fortunately, the coffee
brought by the Oyster Ponders, and which retained some of its original
warmth, had been set before the fire, and was now as hot as the human
stomach could bear it. Two or three swallows of this grateful fluid were
given to Daggett, and his voice; almost instantaneously showed the effect
they produced.

"I'm in a bad way, Garner," resumed the vineyard-master; "I fear we're
all in a bad way, that are here. I held out ag'in the cold as long as
human natur' could bear it, but was forced to give in at last."

"How many of your people still remain, Daggett? tell us, that we may look
for them, and attend to their wants."

"I'm afraid, Gar'ner, they'll never want anything more in this life! The
second mate and two of the hands were sitting in the cabin when I got into
this berth, and I fear 't will be found that they're dead. I urged them to
turn in, too, as the berths were the only place where anything like warmth
was to be found; but drowsiness had come on 'em, and, when that is the
case, freezin' soon follows."

"The three men in the cabin are past our assistance, being actually frozen
into logs; but there must be several more of you. I see the signs of two
others in the berths--ah! what do you say to that poor fellow, Stephen?"

"The spirit is still in the body, sir, but about to depart, If we can get
him to swallow a little of the coffee, the angel of death may yet loosen
his hold on him."

The coffee was got down this man's throat, and he instantly revived. He
was a young man named Lee, and was one of the finest physical specimens of
strength and youth in the whole crew. On examining his limbs, none were
found absolutely frozen, though the circulation of the blood was so near
being checked that another hour of the great cold which had reigned in the
cabin, and which was slowly increasing in intensity, must have destroyed
him. On applying a similar process to Daggett, Roswell was startled at the