when, in spite of
its struggles, the creature was hauled up on the raft, and its long arms
chopped off. It had expected simply to catch a whiting, and had itself
been caught by the hook sticking through the whiting's mouth. It was
very untempting-looking for food, though they might have preferred it to
shark flesh. The whiting, however, supplied them with as much fish as
they could eat raw. Altogether they agreed that they had had a good
evening's sport, and that if they could have forgotten where they were,
and that their friends were anxious about them, they should have enjoyed
themselves amazingly, only that they should have preferred cooked fish
to raw. As night, however, crept on, they began to feel the loneliness
and helplessness of their position. Still, the calm continued, and the
stars shone forth, each spark of light being reflected in the
mirror-like ocean; and Harry made out the polar star, and wished that
there was a good breeze that they might steer by it towards England.
The air was very chilly, but as they had saved several blankets, they
wrapped themselves up, and kept tolerably warm. As they had not got a
lantern or candle, or any means of striking a light, they could do
nothing, and so they chatted away till they both went off to the land of
dreams.

"Sleep on, my poor lads," said the old man, guessing by their silence
what had happened. "You little think of the danger you are in. If a
gale springs up, how is this small raft to weather it? For myself, I am
worn out, and my time must come in a year or two, or a few months it may
be; but life is fresh and pleasant for the young lads. Well, well, God
is kind and just. He knows what is best for them. His will be done."

The lives of most men are metaphorically varied by storms and calms,
clouds and sunshine, and so in reality was the existence of our two
young friends on the raft. The night passed away quietly, and towards
morning the old man, in spite of his intentions to keep watch, fell
asleep. David was the first to rouse up. The sun had not risen, but a
streak of red in the sky showed in what quarter he was about to appear.
David stood up to look around him. He would not call Harry till it was
necessary, for he was sleeping so calmly, with a smile on his
countenance, dreaming of some pleasant scenes at home, probably with his
mother and sister present. As David was thus standing up, holding on to
the mast, he felt a light air fan