the boat steady. It was slow work, but it was done in
time; and when it was half emptied of its contents, they both climbed
in, and being now able to bale together, they soon had it clear, and
floating bravely like a cork.

Much to their joy, it did not leak a bit; and after having satisfied
themselves on that point, they went on to examine their craft in detail.
It was a smart ship's cutter, which had evidently, as David had
surmised, been washed off the bows or davits of some sea-going vessel
through being carelessly fastened, for it was perfectly uninjured, and,
to the delight of the boys, it had its proper oars and a mast and sails
lashed fore and aft under the thwarts. There was also a locker in the
stern-sheets which was locked, and on David prising it open with his
clasp knife, it was found to contain some fishing-line and hooks. A
small cask, or breaker, was also locked in the bow of the boat, and this
was found to contain water, a trifle impregnated by the sea, and
slightly brackish, but still quite drinkable. It need hardly be
mentioned what a great boon this was to them, as they had begun to be
afflicted with thirst as the sun's heat grew more powerful towards
mid-day.

"Oh, David," exclaimed Jonathan presently, from his seat in the stern of
the boat, where he had been giving way to his thoughts while his friend
was bustling about in the bows, stepping the mast, and seeing that the
sail and tackle answered properly, "God has been very watchful over us!"

"Yes," replied the other, "we have much to be thankful for, old man, and
I am for one, as I've no doubt you are; but still I don't see why we
should remain here, as there is no chance of the _Sea Rover_ coming back
for us now, and there is a good southwesterly breeze blowing just on
purpose for us."

"Why, in what direction would you steer?"

"Nor'-east, to be sure, and we'll fetch the Cape of Good Hope in time,
besides the chance of falling in the track of passing vessels."

"Have you any idea of where we are, David?"

"Well, the ship yesterday was in latitude 36 degrees and something, and
just nearing the longitude of Greenwich, which is neither east nor west,
as you know, so I suppose we're about a thousand miles or so off the
Cape."

"Good heavens, David! a thousand miles!"

"It isn't such a tremendous long way, Jonathan. We can run it easily,
if the wind lasts from the same quarter, in about eight days; and if we
don't quite fetch the Cap