sea voyage,"
murmured Mr. Tarbill. "I can't bear to think of being hungry."

"Well, perhaps there'll be no need for it. I only wanted to warn
you. Now I propose to take command of this gig, for it is my
property, and I'm going to be obeyed, just as if we were on the
_Eagle_."

"Aye, aye, sir," replied the sailors promptly.

"I'll do my best to bring the craft to the larger island as soon as
possible. We'll have to depend somewhat on the wind, for we can't
row all that distance in time to make our provisions last.
Fortunately, I have a reliable pocket compass, so I can lay our
course fairly accurately. Now, Ned Scudd and Tim Flynn, step the
mast and hoist the sail and we'll see how our craft behaves under
canvas."

The two sailors soon had the sail hoisted, and under the influence
of a stiff breeze the gig shot rapidly ahead, the oars being
shipped. They had two pairs now, one the spare lot from the gig
and the other from the boat Mr. Carr had commanded.

Captain Spark arranged his pocket compass on the stern seat near
the tiller, and sitting there he directed the course of the small
boat as nearly as he could toward the large island. He and Mr.
Carr were to divide the watches of the day and night. There would
be four, of six hours each. That is, Captain Spark would be in
charge of the boat for six hours, and then Mr. Carr would go on
watch for the same length of time, until it became the captain's
turn again. In this way each one could get sufficient rest.

The two sailors, Bob and Mr. Tarbill were divided between the two
heads of the watch, Bob and Tim Flynn being chosen by the captain.

The food had been carefully stowed away in the lockers, the
captain's charts, chronometer and sextant were put where he could
easily get at them, and as they had breakfasted before they set off
on their voyage, there was nothing to do for several hours but to
make themselves as comfortable as possible in the boat.

Had it not been for the worry over what might be the outcome, and
had not the dreadful memory of the shipwreck been in all their
minds, they might have enjoyed the sail. As it was, no one felt
very jolly. Mr. Tarbill was particularly miserable, and was
continually finding fault.

"Oh, dear! It's dreadfully hot!" he exclaimed when they had been
sailing for several hours and Bob's Island was out of sight. "I'm
afraid I shall be sunstruck."

"Get in the shadow of the sail. Go forward," advised Capta